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The Role of Entrepreneurial Human Capital as a Driver of Endogenous Economic Growth

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  • Ehrlich, Isaac

    (University at Buffalo, SUNY)

  • Li, Dunli

    (University College London)

  • Liu, Zhiqiang

    (University at Buffalo, SUNY)

Abstract

We model investment in entrepreneurial human capital (EHC) – the representative enterprise's share of production capacity allocated to investment in innovative industrial and commercial knowledge – as a distinct channel through which firm-specific human capital drives endogenous growth. Our model suggests that institutional factors supporting free markets for goods and ideas, and higher educational attainments of entrepreneurs and workers, enhance endogenous economic growth by augmenting the efficiency of investment in EHC rather than exclusively by themselves. We test these implications using data from Global Entrepreneurship Monitor's Adult Population Survey of 63 countries over 2002–2010 and find robust support for these hypotheses.

Suggested Citation

  • Ehrlich, Isaac & Li, Dunli & Liu, Zhiqiang, 2017. "The Role of Entrepreneurial Human Capital as a Driver of Endogenous Economic Growth," IZA Discussion Papers 11048, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
  • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp11048
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    5. André Stel & Martin Carree & Roy Thurik, 2005. "The Effect of Entrepreneurial Activity on National Economic Growth," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 24(3), pages 311-321, February.
    6. Isaac Ehrlich & Jinyoung Kim, 2007. "Social Security and Demographic Trends: Theory and Evidence from the International Experience," Review of Economic Dynamics, Elsevier for the Society for Economic Dynamics, vol. 10(1), pages 55-77, January.
    7. Ronald H. Coase, 2022. "The Market for Goods and the Market for Ideas," Econ Journal Watch, Econ Journal Watch, vol. 19(1), pages 166–175-1, March.
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    10. Héctor Salgado-Banda, 2007. "Entrepreneurship And Economic Growth: An Empirical Analysis," Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship (JDE), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 12(01), pages 3-29.
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    Cited by:

    1. Bethencourt, Carlos & Perera-Tallo, Fernando, 2020. "Human Capital, Economic Growth, and Public Expenditure," ADBI Working Papers 1066, Asian Development Bank Institute.
    2. Gilberto Tadeu Lima & Laura Barbosa de Carvalho & Gustavo Pereira Serra, 2024. "Human Capital Accumulation and Output Growth in Demand-led Macrodynamics," Working Papers, Department of Economics 2024_23, University of São Paulo (FEA-USP), revised 28 Aug 2024.
    3. Gilberto Tadeu Lima & Laura Carvalho, Gustavo Pereira Serra, 2018. "Human Capital Accumulation, Income Distribution and Economic Growth: A Neo-Kaleckian Analytical Framework," Working Papers, Department of Economics 2018_19, University of São Paulo (FEA-USP).
    4. Ehrlich, Isaac & Cook, Adam & Yin, Yong, 2018. "What Accounts for the US Ascendancy to Economic Superpower by the Early 20th Century: The Morrill Act – Human Capital Hypothesis," IZA Discussion Papers 11647, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    5. Sara Amoroso & Albert N. Link, 2021. "Intellectual property protection mechanisms and the characteristics of founding teams," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(9), pages 7329-7350, September.
    6. Sari Pekkala Kerr & William R. Kerr, 2021. "Whose Job Is It Anyway? Coethnic Hiring in New US Ventures," Journal of Human Capital, University of Chicago Press, vol. 15(1), pages 86-127.
    7. Kunwon Ahn & John V. Winters, 2023. "Does education enhance entrepreneurship?," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 61(2), pages 717-743, August.
    8. Cook, Adam & Ehrlich, Isaac, 2018. "Was Higher Education a Major Channel through which the United States Became an Economic Superpower in the 20th Century?," ADBI Working Papers 820, Asian Development Bank Institute.
    9. Adam Cook & Isaac Ehrlich, 2018. "Was higher education a major channel through which the US became an economic superpower in the 20th century?," Journal of the Asia Pacific Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(4), pages 515-553, October.
    10. Carlos Bethencourt & Fernando Perera-Tallo, 2024. "Public sector and human capital: on the mechanics of economic development," Journal of Economics, Springer, vol. 143(1), pages 1-66, September.
    11. Jolanda Hessels & Wim Naudé, 2019. "The Intersection Of The Fields Of Entrepreneurship And Development Economics: A Review Towards A New View," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(2), pages 389-403, April.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    the market for ideas; entrepreneurship; innovation; human capital; endogenous growth;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O43 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Institutions and Growth

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