Unveiling cultural influences on entrepreneurship - Bridging to Africa

Abstract

The current work aims at studying the relationship between na tional culture and entrepreneurship, while focusing on African countries (i.e., Angola, Egypt and Morocco), as part of a global context. Specifi cally, the study looks to identify countries’ cultural profi les and uncover their relationship with locals’ entrepreneurial intentions and behaviour (i.e., opportunity vs. necessity motiva tion and local vs. international entrepreneurship). Data concern ing 41 countries obtained from Hofstede Insight and Global Entre preneurship Monitor allowed us to carry out the study. We found three diff erent cultural groups of countries that give rise to diff er ent entrepreneurial intentions and behaviour in both new and es tablished entrepreneurs. Our results hence suggest that there is no single cultural confi guration that boosts entrepreneurship and which can be associated with an increase in all entrepreneurship indicators. While some national cultures favour entrepreneurial intention and local entrepreneurship, others favour international entrepreneurship. Practical implications are suggested to policy makers and firms.