Enterprise as sunset career? Entrepreneurial intentions in the ageing population

Erno T. Tornikoski and Teemu Kautonen

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2009, vol. 8, issue 2, 278-291

Abstract: The contribution of our study is twofold. Firstly, it responds to the great need for the application of the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) to examine entrepreneurial intentions in other demographic segments than students. Secondly, we address the topical policy issue of explaining the entrepreneurial intentions of the ageing population (individuals aged 50 or over). We found support for the TPB model in our sample of 531 older individuals in Finland. The most important predictor of entrepreneurial intentions was Perceived Behavioural Control, which is in keeping with earlier studies of students' entrepreneurial intentions. As such, the entrepreneurial intentions of older individuals are mostly influenced by their perception as to how easy or difficult they think starting up a business would be – an issue that policy planners are well advised to keep in mind.

Keywords: entrepreneurial intentions; ageing population; theory of planned behaviour; TPB; older entrepreneurs; mature entrepreneurs; third-age entrepreneurs; entrepreneurship. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ids:ijesbu:v:8:y:2009:i:2:p:278-291

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