Politico–Economic Factors Associated with Interest in Starting a Business: A Multi–Country Study

Abstract

In this article, we study the constructs of perceived environmental munificence and carrying capacity as they relate to potential for starting a business in samples taken from thirteen Anglo–Saxon, East Asian, and South Asian countries. Seven politico–economic dimensions represent perceived munificence and carrying capacity: financing available, supportive government regulation, market opportunities, access to support services, supply of skilled labor, connections needed, and competitive conditions. Perceived market opportunities, supply of skilled labor, and supportive government regulation (negatively) relate most consistently to start–up feasibility and desirability in the full sample. In regional subsamples, the only dimensions to associate with both feasibility and desirability are market opportunities in Anglo–Saxon countries and supply of skilled labor in South Asia.