Overconfidence, Optimism and Entrepreneurship

Indy Bernoster, Cornelius A. Rietveld, Roy Thurik and Olivier Torrès
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Indy Bernoster: Department of Applied Economics, Erasmus School of Economics, Erasmus University Rotterdam, 3062 PA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Cornelius A. Rietveld: Department of Applied Economics, Erasmus School of Economics, Erasmus University Rotterdam, 3062 PA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Olivier Torrès: Montpellier Business School, 34080 Montpellier, France

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 7, 1-14

Abstract: Overconfidence is one of the alleged drivers for market entry. However, establishing its effect is challenging and much of the existing entrepreneurship literature confusingly conflates overconfidence with optimism. In the present study, we use validated scales to analyze the relationship between overconfidence and two important aspects of entrepreneurship, while explicitly controlling for optimism. Specifically, we study the role of overconfidence in developing intentions about entering entrepreneurship as well as how overconfidence relates to entrepreneurial orientation. Our findings show that overconfidence is related to intended market entry but not to the market position (entrepreneurial orientation) of the business.

Keywords: entrepreneurial intention; entrepreneurial orientation; optimism; overconfidence (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (18)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:7:p:2233-:d:155150

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