Rags to riches? Entrepreneurs' social classes, resourceful time allocation, and venture performance

Jianhua Ge, Joanna Mingxuan Li, Eric Yanfei Zhao and Fan Yang

Journal of Business Venturing, 2022, vol. 37, issue 5

Abstract: Social classes shape entrepreneurial pursuits in that entrepreneurs from lower social class groups face more resource deficiencies compared to those from higher social class groups. In this study, we theorize that being resourceful with a particular resource—time—helps ventures run by lower-class entrepreneurs achieve better performance. However, we further argue that the extent to which entrepreneurs use time resourcefully is affected by the cognitive schemas stamped on them by their social class backgrounds. Our empirical analysis of 8663 Chinese private entrepreneurs between 2006 and 2010 lends robust support to these arguments. By revealing both material and cognitive constraints stemming from entrepreneurs' social classes, our study contributes to research on social classes and entrepreneurial resourcefulness and has important implications for understanding the persistence of inequality in entrepreneurship.

Keywords: Social class; Inequality; Resourcefulness; Time; Venture performance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jbvent:v:37:y:2022:i:5:s088390262200060x

DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusvent.2022.106248

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