The Jack-of-All-Trades Entrepreneur: Innate Talent or Acquired Skill?

Olmo Silva ()

No 2264, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: Cross-sectional tests of the Jack-of-All-Trades theory of entrepreneurship invariably conclude that accumulation of balanced skill-mix across different fields of expertise stimulates entrepreneurship. Yet, none of these considers individual unobservable characteristics which may simultaneously determine skill accumulation and occupational choice. Using panel techniques to control for this, I show that gathering expertise across various subjects does not increase the chances of becoming entrepreneur.

Keywords: skills; occupational choice; entrepreneurship (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J23 J24 M13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 12 pages
Date: 2006-08
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-bec, nep-ent, nep-hrm and nep-knm
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (14)

Published - published in: Economics Letters, 2007, 97 (2), 118-123

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Journal Article: The Jack-of-All-Trades entrepreneur: Innate talent or acquired skill? (2007)
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