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Digital exposure, age, and entrepreneurship

Author

Listed:
  • Ting Zhang

    (University of Baltimore)

  • Roger Stough

    (George Mason University)

  • Dan Gerlowski

    (University of Baltimore)

Abstract

This study focuses on age and digital exposure as factors driving individuals to be (1) employees or entrepreneurs, (2) full-time or part-time, or (3) opportunity or necessity entrepreneurs. It extends occupational choice models, relying on a utility maximization framework, to entrepreneur types incorporating age and digital exposure effects. Using 132 months of Current Population Survey data and multilevel modelling with individuals’ fixed effects and metropolitan area random effects, the study finds that (1) workers with low- and high- digital exposure are more likely to become entrepreneurs than peers with medium digital exposure, mirroring digitization’s “push” and “pull” mechanisms on entrepreneurship; (2) age strengthens digitization’s “pull” mechanism to be entrepreneurs (versus employees) and opportunity (versus necessity) entrepreneurs; (3) digital exposure has a weak marginal potential to increase workers’ odds to be part-time (versus full-time) entrepreneurs. The study also notes the importance of location and concludes with discussion and implications.

Suggested Citation

  • Ting Zhang & Roger Stough & Dan Gerlowski, 2022. "Digital exposure, age, and entrepreneurship," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 69(3), pages 633-681, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:anresc:v:69:y:2022:i:3:d:10.1007_s00168-022-01130-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s00168-022-01130-0
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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