Exploring Buddhist influence on the entrepreneurial decision

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the role that socio‐religious context plays in the decision of whether to become and entrepreneur, and what type of new business venture to create. Design/methodology/approach Interpretivist development from qualitative data obtained by interviews of entrepreneurs in Nepal and Canada. Findings Conceptions of Right Livelihood play an important role in the evaluation and exploitation of entrepreneurial opportunities and in the day‐to‐day operations of the resultant new businesses. Originality/value Links the literatures of social economics and entrepreneurship to explore how entrepreneurs must balance economic, social, and religious objectives when launching and operating new businesses.