Antecedents of growth-oriented entrepreneurship before and during the Greek economic crisis
Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development
ISSN: 1462-6004
Article publication date: 29 June 2017
Issue publication date: 11 August 2017
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore potential drivers of high-growth intentions of early-stage entrepreneurs in Greece before and after the onset of the financial crisis of 2008.
Design/methodology/approach
To this end, the authors use individual-level data retrieved from Global Entrepreneurship Monitor annual surveys (2003-2015).
Findings
The results show that high-growth intentions of Greek entrepreneurs are driven by different factors in the crisis compared to the non-crisis period. Male entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs with significant work experience seem to be more likely to be engaged in growth-oriented new ventures during the crisis period. The same appears to hold for entrepreneurs who are motivated by an opportunity and also perceive future business opportunities in adverse economic conditions. On the other hand, the educational level and the social contacts of founders with other entrepreneurs are found to drive ambitious Greek entrepreneurship in the years before the crisis, while they were insignificant after the crisis outbreak.
Originality/value
Based on the concept of ambitious entrepreneurship, this study contributes to the literature by investigating the determinants of entrepreneurial high-growth expectations in the Greek context emphasizing the crisis period in comparison to the pre-crisis years.
Keywords
Citation
Giotopoulos, I., Kontolaimou, A. and Tsakanikas, A. (2017), "Antecedents of growth-oriented entrepreneurship before and during the Greek economic crisis", Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, Vol. 24 No. 3, pp. 528-544. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSBED-01-2017-0003
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited