Entrepreneurial Motives and Performance: Evidence from North America

Abstract

This study examined Intrinsic and Extrinsic Entrepreneurial Motives vs. Performance in the three countries forming North America. The Motives included: Independence, Job security, Monetary gain, and Intrinsic rewards. Mexican respondents rated their success lower than their Canadian and U.S. counterparts, and were less satisfied; they were more centered on Extrinsic Motives, while Canadian and U.S. respondents had a tendency to be primarily driven by Intrinsic Motives, particularly the desire to be independent. While economic survival was an overarching Motive among Mexican business people, intrinsic rewards came out as most important behind the perceptions of success among Canadian and U.S. respondents.