Frontiers of Entrepreneurship Research 1997 Edition Return to 1997 Topical Index Order hard copy editions of Frontiers of Entrepreneurship Research by mail

ENTREPRENEURIAL INTENT AMONG STUDENTS: TESTING AN INTENT MODEL IN ASIA, SCANDINAVIA, AND USA

Erkko Autio, Helsinki University of Technology
Robert H. Keeley, University of Colorado
Magnus Klofsten, Linköping University
Thomas Ulfstedt, Helsinki University of Technology

Introduction

Theory of Planned Behavior

Studies on Entrepreneurial Intent

Model of the Present Study

The Base Model

Figure 1

Operationalization of the Model

Empirical Study

Samples

Testing the Model

Robustness of the Model

Summary and Discussion

Figure 2

References

Table 1

Table 2

Table 3

Table 4

Table 5

Table 6

Appendix 1: Constructs

ABSTRACT

An application of the theory of planned behavior is developed to analyze factors influencing entrepreneurial intent among students of technology and sciences. To our knowledge, this is the first study to test the robustness of the intentapproach using international comparisons. The samples are from Finland, Sweden, USA, and South-East Asia. The robustness checks produce remarkably uniform results. Entrepreneurial conviction emerges as the most important determinant of entrepreneurial intent. These findings suggest that the emergence of spin-offs from universities can be indirectly influenced by influencing entrepreneurial conviction through the manipulation of university environment and the image of entrepreneurship.

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Last Updated 3/5/98