What determines the growth ambition of Dutch early-stage entrepreneurs?

Ingrid Verheul and Linda Van Mil

International Journal of Entrepreneurial Venturing, 2011, vol. 3, issue 2, 183-207

Abstract: This paper investigates the determinants of the ambition to grow among Dutch early-stage entrepreneurs. We use GEM adult population survey data for The Netherlands. Merging cross-sectional data of the years 2002-2007 leads to a sample of 409 nascent entrepreneurs and 336 young business owners. Growth ambition is measured by asking respondents which statement fits him or her best: 1) I want my company to be as large as possible; 2) I want a size I can manage myself or with a few key employees. We find that nascent entrepreneurs and young business owners are equally likely to strive after growth. For nascent entrepreneurs fear of failure and entrepreneurial self-efficacy are important factors explaining growth ambition. Starting a business because of perceiving and exploiting a business opportunity (as opposed to necessity entrepreneurship) is an important driver of growth ambition for all early-stage entrepreneurs, but in particular for nascents.

Keywords: growth ambition; nascent entrepreneurs; young business; Netherlands; Holland; early-stage entrepreneurs; population surveys; Global Entrepreneurship Monitor; GEM; cross-sectional data; business owners; company size; key employees; failure; self-efficacy; business opportunities; necessity entrepreneurship; nascents; entrepreneurial venturing; business ventures; entrepreneurialism. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (26)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ids:ijeven:v:3:y:2011:i:2:p:183-207

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