This file is part of IDEAS, which uses RePEc data


[ Papers | Articles | Software | Books | Chapters | Authors | Institutions | JEL Classification | NEP reports | Search | New papers by email | Author registration | Rankings | Volunteers | FAQ | Blog | Help! ]

Uncertainty Avoidance and the Rate of Business Ownership Across 21 OECD Countries, 1976-2004

Author info | Abstract | Publisher info | Download info | Related research | Statistics
Author Info
Wennekers, A.R.M.
Thurik, A.R.
Stel, A.J. van
Noorderhaven, N. (Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM), RSM Erasmus University)

Additional information is available for the following registered author(s):

Abstract

Persistent differences in the level of business ownership across countries have attracted the attention of scientific as well as political debate. Cultural as well as economic influences are assumed to play a role. This paper deals with the influence of cultural attitudes towards uncertainty on the rate of business ownership across 21 OECD countries. First, the concepts of uncertainty and risk are elaborated, as well as their relevance for entrepreneurship. An occupational choice model is introduced to underpin our reasoning at the macro-level. Second, regression analysis using pooled macro data for 1976, 1990 and 2004 and controlling for several economic variables, yields evidence that uncertainty avoidance is positively correlated with the prevalence of business ownership. According to our model, a restrictive climate of large organizations in high uncertainty avoidance countries pushes individuals striving for autonomy towards self-employment. Regressions for these three years separately show that in 2004, this positive correlation is no longer found, indicating that a compensating pull of entrepreneurship in countries with low uncertainty avoidance may have gained momentum in recent years. Third, an interaction term between uncertainty avoidance and GDP per capita in the pooled panel regressions shows that the historical negative relationship between GDP per capita and the level of business ownership is substantially weaker for countries with lower uncertainty avoidance. This suggests that rising opportunity costs of self-employment play a less important role in this cultural environment, or are being compensated by increasing entrepreneurial opportunities.

Download Info
To download:

If you experience problems downloading a file, check if you have the proper application to view it first. Information about this may be contained in the File-Format links below. In case of further problems read the IDEAS help file. Note that these files are not on the IDEAS site. Please be patient as the files may be large.

File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/1765/8125
File Format: application/pdf
File Function:
Download Restriction: no

Publisher Info
Paper provided by Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM), ERIM is the joint research institute of the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University and the Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) at Erasmus University Rotterdam. in its series Research Paper with number ERS-2006-065-ORG Revision_Date: 2008-07-02.

Download reference. The following formats are available: HTML, plain text, BibTeX, RIS (EndNote), ReDIF
Length:
Date of creation: 28 Nov 2006
Date of revision:
Handle: RePEc:dgr:eureri:30009172

Contact details of provider:
Web page: http://www.erim.eur.nl/

For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its listing, contact: (ERIM Series Handler at the ERIM Office).

Related research
Keywords: Business Ownership Uncertainty Avoidance Cross Country Study Comparative Analysis of Economies Cultural Economics Entrepreneurship

Other versions of this item:

This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports: References listed on IDEAS
Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
  1. Parker, Simon C, 1997. " The Effects of Risk on Self-Employment," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 9(6), pages 515-22, December. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  2. Yamada, Gustavo, 1996. "Urban Informal Employment and Self-Employment in Developing Countries: Theory and Evidence," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 44(2), pages 289-314, January.
  3. Baum, J. Robert & Olian, Judy D. & Erez, Miriam & Schnell, Eugene R. & Smith, Ken G. & Sims, Henry P. & Scully, Judith S. & Smith, Ken A., 1993. "Nationality and work role interactions: A cultural contrast of Israeli and U.S. entrepreneurs' versus managers' needs," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 8(6), pages 499-512, November. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  4. Andre van Stel, . "COMPENDIA: Harmonizing business ownership data across countries and over time," Discussion Papers on Entrepreneurship, Growth and Public Policy 2005-05, Max Planck Institute of Economics, Group for Entrepreneurship, Growth and Public Policy. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  5. David B. Audretsch & Max Keilbach, 2004. "Entrepreneurship Capital and Economic Performance," Discussion Papers on Entrepreneurship, Growth and Public Policy 2004-01, Max Planck Institute of Economics, Group for Entrepreneurship, Growth and Public Policy. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  6. Blanchflower, David G. & Oswald, Andrew & Stutzer, Alois, 2001. "Latent entrepreneurship across nations," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 45(4-6), pages 680-691, May. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  7. Isabel Grilo & Roy Thurik, 2004. "Determinants of entrepreneurship in Europe," Discussion Papers on Entrepreneurship, Growth and Public Policy 2004-30, Max Planck Institute of Economics, Group for Entrepreneurship, Growth and Public Policy. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
    • Grilo, I. & Thurik, A.R., 2004. "Determinants Of Entrepreneurship In Europe," Research Paper ERS-2004-106-ORG Revision, Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM), ERIM is the joint research institute of the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University and the Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) at Erasmus Uni. [Downloadable!]
  8. Blanchflower, David G & Meyer, Bruce D, 1994. " A Longitudinal Analysis of the Young Self-Employed in Australia and the United States," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 6(1), pages 1-19, February.
  9. Carree, M. A. & Thurik, A. R., 1999. "The carrying capacity and entry and exit flows in retailing," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 17(7), pages 985-1007, October. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  10. Ingrid Verheul & Andre van Stel & Roy Thurik, 2004. "Explaining female and male entrepreneurship across 29 countries," Discussion Papers on Entrepreneurship, Growth and Public Policy 2004-08, Max Planck Institute of Economics, Group for Entrepreneurship, Growth and Public Policy. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  11. David B. Audretsch & A. Roy Thurik, 2000. "Capitalism and democracy in the 21st Century: from the managed to the entrepreneurial economy," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 10(1), pages 17-34. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  12. Roy Thurik & Sander Wennekers & Ingrid Verheul & David Audretsch, 2001. "An eclectic theory of entrepreneurship: policies, institutions and culture," Scales Research Reports H200012, EIM Business and Policy Research. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  13. Roy Thurik & Isabel Grilo, 2005. "Determinants of entrepreneurial engagement levels in Europe and the US," Discussion Papers on Entrepreneurship, Growth and Public Policy 2005-25, Max Planck Institute of Economics, Group for Entrepreneurship, Growth and Public Policy. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  14. Meager, Nigel, 1992. " Does Unemployment Lead to Self-employment?," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 4(2), pages 87-103, June.
  15. André van Stel & Roy Thurik & Sander Wennekers & Niels Noorderhaven, 2004. "The role of dissatisfaction and per capita income in explaining self-employment across 15 European countries," Scales Research Reports N200407, EIM Business and Policy Research. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  16. Sander Wennekers, 2006. "Entrepreneurship at Country Level : Economic and Non-Economic Determinants," Scales Research Reports R200602, EIM Business and Policy Research. [Downloadable!]
  17. Schultz, Theodore W, 1975. "The Value of the Ability to Deal with Disequilibria," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 13(3), pages 827-46, September. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  18. Sander Wennekers & André van Stel & Roy Thurik & Paul Reynolds, 2005. "Nascent entrepreneurship and the level of economic development," Discussion Papers on Entrepreneurship, Growth and Public Policy 2005-14, Max Planck Institute of Economics, Group for Entrepreneurship, Growth and Public Policy. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  19. Isabel Grilo & Jesus Maria Irigoyen, 2005. "Entrepreneurship in the EU: to wish and not to be," Discussion Papers on Entrepreneurship, Growth and Public Policy 2005-01, Max Planck Institute of Economics, Group for Entrepreneurship, Growth and Public Policy. [Downloadable!]
  20. Niels G. Noorderhaven & Sander Wennekers and Geert Hofstede & A. Roy Thurik & Ralph E. Wildeman, 1999. "Self-Employment out of Dissatisfaction: An International Study," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 99-089/3, Tinbergen Institute. [Downloadable!]
  21. André van Stel, 2003. "COMPENDIA 2000.2: a harmonized data set of business ownership rates in 23 OECD countries," Scales Research Reports H200302, EIM Business and Policy Research. [Downloadable!]
  22. André van Stel & Roy Thurik & Sander Wennekers & Niels Noorderhaven, 2003. "Self-employment across 15 European countries: the role of dissatisfaction," Scales Research Reports N200223, EIM Business and Policy Research. [Downloadable!]
  23. Evans, David S & Leighton, Linda S, 1989. "Some Empirical Aspects of Entrepreneurship," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 79(3), pages 519-35, June. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  24. Bosma, N. & van Praag, M. & de Wit, G., 2000. "Determinants of Successful Entrepreneurship," Papers 0002/e, NEUHUYS - RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM.
    Other versions:
  25. Noorderhaven, N. & Thurik, A.R. & Wennekers, A.R.M. & Stel, A.J. van, 2003. "Self-Employment Across 15 European Countries:," Research Paper ERS-2003-081-ORG Revision, Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM), ERIM is the joint research institute of the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University and the Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) at Erasmus Uni. [Downloadable!]
  26. Lin, Zhengxi & Picot, Garnett & Compton, Janice, 2000. " The Entry and Exit Dynamics of Self-Employment in Canada," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 15(2), pages 105-25, September. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  27. Shane, Scott, 1993. "Cultural influences on national rates of innovation," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 8(1), pages 59-73, January. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  28. Holmes, Thomas J & Schmitz, James A, Jr, 1990. "A Theory of Entrepreneurship and Its Application to the Study of Business Transfers," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 98(2), pages 265-94, April. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  29. Uhlaner, L.M. & Thurik, A.R. & Hutjes, J., 2002. "Post-Materialism as a Cultural Factor Influencing Entrepreneurial Activity across Nations," Research Paper ERS-2002-62-STR Revision_, Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM), ERIM is the joint research institute of the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University and the Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) at Erasmus Uni. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  30. Robert E. Lucas Jr., 1978. "On the Size Distribution of Business Firms," Bell Journal of Economics, The RAND Corporation, vol. 9(2), pages 508-523, Autumn. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  31. Roy Thurik & Isabel Grilo, 2005. "Latent and actual entrepreneurship in Europe and the US: some recent developments," Discussion Papers on Entrepreneurship, Growth and Public Policy 2005-24, Max Planck Institute of Economics, Group for Entrepreneurship, Growth and Public Policy. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  32. Schultz, T Paul, 1990. "Women's Changing Participation in the Labor Force: A World Perspective," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 38(3), pages 457-88, April.
    Other versions:
  33. Iyigun, Murat F & Owen, Ann L, 1998. "Risk, Entrepreneurship, and Human-Capital Accumulation," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 88(2), pages 454-57, May. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
    Other versions:
  34. Roy Thurik & Lorraine Uhlaner, 2004. "Post-Materialism: A Cultural Factor influencing Total Entrepreneurial Activity across Nations," Scales Research Reports N200321, EIM Business and Policy Research. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  35. McGrath, Rita Gunther & MacMillan, Ian C. & Scheinberg, Sari, 1992. "Elitists, risk-takers, and rugged individualists? An exploratory analysis of cultural differences between entrepreneurs and non-entrepreneurs," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 7(2), pages 115-135, March. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  36. Evans, David S & Jovanovic, Boyan, 1989. "An Estimated Model of Entrepreneurial Choice under Liquidity Constraints," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 97(4), pages 808-27, August. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  37. Wennekers, Sander & Thurik, Roy, 1999. " Linking Entrepreneurship and Economic Growth," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 13(1), pages 27-55, August. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  38. Jacqueline Snijders, 2000. "Entrepreneurship in the Netherlands: Opportunities and threats to nascent entrepreneurship," Scales Research Reports A199908, EIM Business and Policy Research. [Downloadable!]
  39. Kihlstrom, Richard E & Laffont, Jean-Jacques, 1979. "A General Equilibrium Entrepreneurial Theory of Firm Formation Based on Risk Aversion," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 87(4), pages 719-48, August. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  40. Blanchflower, David G & Oswald, Andrew J, 1998. "What Makes an Entrepreneur?," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 16(1), pages 26-60, January. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
    Other versions:
  41. David Audretsch & Roy Thurik, 1997. "Sources of Growth," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 97-109/3, Tinbergen Institute. [Downloadable!]
Full references

Cited by:
(explanations, Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.)

  1. Rui Baptista, 2004. "Culture, Institutions and Government Attitudes towards New Firm Entry," Discussion Papers on Entrepreneurship, Growth and Public Policy 2004-39, Max Planck Institute of Economics, Group for Entrepreneurship, Growth and Public Policy. [Downloadable!]
  2. Lorraine Uhlaner & Roy Thurik, 2005. "Post-Materialism Influencing Total Entrepreneurial Activity Across Nations," Discussion Papers on Entrepreneurship, Growth and Public Policy 2005-20, Max Planck Institute of Economics, Group for Entrepreneurship, Growth and Public Policy. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
Statistics
Access and download statistics

Did you know? Want to help out with this project? Look for volunteer opportunities.

This page was last updated on 2008-8-13.

This information is provided to you by IDEAS at the Department of Economics, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Connecticut using RePEc data on a server sponsored by the Society for Economic Dynamics.