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The non-linear impact of risk tolerance on entrepreneurial profit and business survival

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Listed:
  • Melanie Koch

    (Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB))

  • Lukas Menkhoff

    (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
    IfW Kiel)

Abstract

Entrepreneurs tend to be risk tolerant but is higher risk tolerance always better? In a sample of about 2100 small businesses, we find an inverted U-shaped relation between risk tolerance and profitability. This relationship holds in a simple bilateral regression, and even after controlling for a large set of individual and business characteristics. Apparently, one major transmission goes from risk tolerance via investments to profits. This is quite robust as it applies for both past and planned investments. Considering business survival, we show, first, that less profitable businesses leave the market while moderately risk tolerant entrepreneurs survive more often. Second, the high risk-low profit part of the U-shaped relation seems to disappear among businesses being 4 years and older, indicating that such inferior risk-profit combinations disappear over time. These findings are important for the concept of business readiness trainings as the motivation (and ability) to take risks should potentially be accompanied by some warning that taking too much risk can be detrimental to long-term business success.

Suggested Citation

  • Melanie Koch & Lukas Menkhoff, 2025. "The non-linear impact of risk tolerance on entrepreneurial profit and business survival," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 64(4), pages 1643-1670, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:kap:sbusec:v:64:y:2025:i:4:d:10.1007_s11187-024-00956-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s11187-024-00956-6
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Risk tolerance; Entrepreneurs; Profits; Investments;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D22 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Empirical Analysis
    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty
    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship
    • M21 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Economics - - - Business Economics

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