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The Effect of Early Entrepreneurship Education: Evidence from a Randomized Field Experiment

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  • Laura Rosendahl Huber

    (University of Amsterdam)

  • Randolph Sloof

    (University of Amsterdam)

  • Mirjam van Praag

    (Copenhagen Business School, Denmark)

Abstract

This discussion paper resulted in a publication in the 'European Economic Review' , 2014, 72(11), pages 76-97. The aim of this study is to analyze the effectiveness of early entrepreneurship education. To this end, we conduct a randomized field experiment to evaluate a leading entrepreneurship education program that is taught worldwide in the final grade of primary school. We focus on pupils’ development of entrepreneurship knowledge and a set of non-cognitive skills relevant for entrepreneurial activity. The results indicate that knowledge is unaffected by the program. However, the program has a robust positive effect on non-cognitive entrepreneurial skills. This is surprising since previous evaluations found zero or negative effects. Because these earlier studies all pertain to entrepreneurship education for adolescents, our result tentatively suggests that non-cognitive entrepreneurial skills are best developed at an early age.

Suggested Citation

  • Laura Rosendahl Huber & Randolph Sloof & Mirjam van Praag, 2012. "The Effect of Early Entrepreneurship Education: Evidence from a Randomized Field Experiment," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 12-041/3, Tinbergen Institute.
    • Handle: RePEc:tin:wpaper:20120041
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    Cited by:

    1. Alexandria Valerio & Brent Parton & Alicia Robb, 2014. "Entrepreneurship Education and Training Programs around the World : Dimensions for Success," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 18031.
    2. Robert W. Fairlie & Dean Karlan & Jonathan Zinman, 2015. "Behind the GATE Experiment: Evidence on Effects of and Rationales for Subsidized Entrepreneurship Training," American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association, vol. 7(2), pages 125-161, May.
    3. Nicole GÖLER von RAVENSBURG, 2017. "Pupils’ cooperatives and the acquisition of competences for sustainable development," CIRIEC Working Papers 1701, CIRIEC - Université de Liège.
    4. Elert, Niklas & Andersson, Fredrik W. & Wennberg, Karl, 2015. "The impact of entrepreneurship education in high school on long-term entrepreneurial performance," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 209-223.
    5. Misu Sorina Ioana, 2019. "How Do High School Students Perceive the Entrepreneurial Education," Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Excellence, Sciendo, vol. 13(1), pages 945-961, May.
    6. García-Rodríguez Fracisco J. & Gutiérrez-Taño Desiderio & Ruiz-Rosa Inés, 2019. "Analysis of the Potential of Entrepreneurship Education in Young Children," Entrepreneurship Research Journal, De Gruyter, vol. 9(1), pages 1-9, January.
    7. Oliver Falck & Anita Fichtl & Anita Dietrich, 2013. "Die Herausbildung von Unternehmertum," ifo Schnelldienst, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 66(06), pages 38-42, March.
    8. Karlson, Nils & Fergin, Elina, 2014. "Virtue as Competence in the Entrepreneurial Society," Ratio Working Papers 250, The Ratio Institute.
    9. Rosendahl Huber, Laura & Sloof, Randolph & van Praag, Mirjam C., 2014. "Jacks-of-All-Trades? The Effect of Balanced Skills on Team Performance," IZA Discussion Papers 8237, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    10. Cristina Mocanu, 2020. "Drivers of entrepreneurship and the role of education in Romania," Manager Journal, Faculty of Business and Administration, University of Bucharest, vol. 31(1), pages 108-119, December.
    11. Tae Jun Bae & Shanshan Qian & Chao Miao & James O. Fiet, 2014. "The Relationship between Entrepreneurship Education and Entrepreneurial Intentions: A Meta–Analytic Review," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 38(2), pages 217-254, March.
    12. Mehran Andalibi, 2019. "Early Incorporation of Entrepreneurship Mindset in An Engineering Curriculum," International Journal of Higher Education, Sciedu Press, vol. 8(4), pages 1-98, August.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Skill formation; field experiment; entrepreneurship education; entrepreneurship;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments

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