A path-centric account of action-oriented entrepreneurship training
Journal
Small Business Economics
Type
journal article
Date Issued
2025-05-02
Author(s)
Abstract
We develop a path-centric account that explains how action-oriented entrepreneurship training translates into self-employment. The path-centric account suggests that action-oriented entrepreneurship training positively impacts self-employment through entrepreneurial motivation and entrepreneurial action, which form a reciprocal and mutually stabilizing relationship after training. Randomized controlled trials with a baseline (N = 1156), a shortterm (N = 872), and a 1-year follow-up measurement (N = 622) supported the hypotheses. The path-centric account describes post-training processes that explain the transfer of action-oriented entrepreneurship training. Furthermore, we address a grand challenge by demonstrating how action-oriented entrepreneurship training can reduce unemployment among young adults in low-and middle-income countries. Plain English Summary Action-oriented entrepreneurship training can reduce unemployment among young adults in sub-Saharan Africa by fostering a stabilized action-motivation pattern that forms a path to self-employment. The study presents a path-centric account that describes how entrepreneurial motivation and action influence and stabilize each other after action-oriented entrepreneurship training. We ran field experiments with more than 1000 students enrolled at universities in sub-Saharan Africa. Participation in action-oriented entrepreneurship training increased the likelihood of being self-employed 1 year after training by 30%. This could be explained by a reciprocal and mutually stabilizing relationship between entrepreneurial motivation and action after training. Thus, action-oriented entrepreneurship training should be considered an effective means to reduce unemployment among young adults in sub-Saharan Africa, because it promotes an action-motivation path leading to self-employment.
Language
English
Keywords
Action
Business creation
Experiment
Grand challenge
Motivation
Randomized controlled trials (RCT)
Selfregulation
Sustainable development goals (SDG)
Training transfer JEL Classification D91
Refereed
yes