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Entrepreneurial growth strategies and business survival: the moderating effect of the economic environment

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  • Chukwuemeka Christian Onwe

    (Veritas University Abuja
    Veritas University)

  • Joseph Obamen

    (Veritas University)

  • Rose Omonegho Ayide

    (Veritas University)

  • Chinedu Vitalis Ndu

    (University of Nigeria)

Abstract

What makes some businesses survive while others decline and die? Entrepreneurial growth strategies have largely been found to foster business survival. However, recent studies have suggested that the nature of the business environment may also impact how growth strategies affect survival. This study empirically examined how the economic environment might moderate the long-standing relationship between entrepreneurial growth strategies and business survival. We utilized data that we collected with a four-wave repeated cross-sectional approach from 296 entrepreneurs who own, run, or manage small enterprises in the four phases of Abuja Nigeria, to analyze the influence of entrepreneurial growth strategies (expansion and diversification strategies) on business survival as moderated by the economic environment. Our results showed that expansion and diversification strategies significantly (positive) influence business survival, but the economic environment does not moderate the relationship between entrepreneurial growth strategies and business survival. Therefore, the nature of the economic environment does not seem to assist in explaining the entrepreneurial growth strategies-survival nexus.

Suggested Citation

  • Chukwuemeka Christian Onwe & Joseph Obamen & Rose Omonegho Ayide & Chinedu Vitalis Ndu, 2025. "Entrepreneurial growth strategies and business survival: the moderating effect of the economic environment," Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, Springer;UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurship, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jglont:v:15:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s40497-025-00423-w
    DOI: 10.1007/s40497-025-00423-w
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