Entrepreneurship: First Results from Russia

Simeon Djankov, Edward Miguel, Yingyi Qian, Gérard Roland and Ekaterina Zhuravskaya
Additional contact information
Yingyi Qian: UC Berkeley

No w0046, Working Papers from Center for Economic and Financial Research (CEFIR)

Abstract: We study the determinants of the decision to become an entrepreneur in 7 Russian cities. Using data on 400 entrepreneurs and 440 non-entrepreneurs, we find considerable variation in the proportion of entrepreneurs, ranging from 6% of adult population in Nizhny Novgorod, to 16% in Perm and 18% in Taganrog. We find evidence that social network effects play a large role in determining entrepreneurial behavior: those individuals whose relatives and childhood friends are entrepreneurs are more likely to be entrepreneurs. Individual characteristics including academic success and educational background, performance on a test of cognitive ability, personal confidence, greed, and willingness to take risks are also important determinants of entrepreneurship in Russia, echoing the claims of Schumpeter. Certain aspects of the institutional environment play a role, but are secondary to individual characteristics.

Pages: 19 pages
Date: 2004-08
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-soc and nep-tra
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Entrepreneurship: First Results from Russia (2004)
Working Paper: Entrepreneurship: First Results from Russia (2004)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:cfr:cefirw:w0046

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