The impact of education histories on the decision to become self-employed A study of young, aspiring, minority business owners

• Published in: Small business economics Vol. 33; no. 4; pp. 455 - 466
• Main Author: Thomas, M. Kathleen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer 01.12.2009; Springer US; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Academic achievement; Academic success; Age; Aspirations; Bachelors degrees; Bildungsabschluss; Business and Management; Core curriculum; Correlation analysis; Decision making; Education; Educational attainment; Entrepreneurs; Entrepreneurship; Entrepreneurship education; Financial resources; High school students; History instruction; Industrial Organization; Labor market; Locus of control; Management; Microeconomics; Minderheit; Minorities; Minority & ethnic groups; Minority owned businesses; Noncitizens; Parents; Polls & surveys; Probability; Proprietors; R&D; Race; Research & development; Secondary schools; Selbstständiger; Self employment; Self-employed workers; Small business; Small businesses; Students; Studies; Studium; Success; Unternehmer; USA; Educational history; L26; Self-employment entry; Minorities; Academic success; Aspiring entrepreneurs; J15
• ISSN: 0921-898X; 1573-0913
• DOI: 10.1007/s11187-009-9201-y

Although it is well documented that minorities are underrepresented among the selfemployed, no study to date has examined how limited educational opportunity might be responsible. Using data from the High School and Beyond Fourth Follow-Up survey and controlling for detailed educational histories, this study finds that most variables associated with academic success actually reduce the likelihood one will aspire to own their own business at an early age. Positive developers of self-employment aspirations include financial resources and having a parent who is already self-employed. Asians and males are also more likely to anticipate owning their own business.