THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ORGANIZATIONAL INNOVATION

Abstract

The population and labour force in Australia are ageing, and this paper explores the role of senior entrepreneurship in active ageing. Senior entrepreneurship is the process whereby people aged 50+ participate in business start-ups. The phenomenon is explored from two prominent arguments: (1) as populations age, the number of older business founders will increase, and (2) on the promotion of entrepreneurship in older age segments as a prospective policy option. We adapt an institutional framework to guide the study, with particular emphasis on entrepreneurial attitudes, activity and aspirations. We highlight unique Australian entrepreneurship activity and prevalence rates, scope of senior entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial activity and age, barriers and advantages to senior entrepreneurship, motivation, skills and opportunities for entrepreneurs and finally policy implications and recommendations to enhance active ageing, extending working lives and senior entrepreneurship.