Entrepreneurial opportunities, capacities and entrepreneurial environments: Evidence from Chinese GEM data

Abstract

Purpose

To study how entrepreneurial environments influence entrepreneurial opportunities and capacities in China.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper constructs statistical models to test the relationship between environmental factors and entrepreneurial opportunities or capacities in 13 cities in China according to the conceptual model of GEM. Based on the data derived from GEM reports, the authors use principal component of factor analysis and lest square regression to study the impacts of entrepreneurial environments on entrepreneurial opportunities and capacities empirically.

Findings

This paper indicates that among 13 Chinese cities, if one city has more favorable conditions in terms of nine factors of entrepreneurial environments, it will have more entrepreneurial opportunities, and its entrepreneur will have higher capacities. Moreover, the authors find the extent of the impacts of the economic and cultural environments on entrepreneurial opportunities and capacities is higher than that of political and market environments.

Research limitations/implications

The quantity of sample statistics is relatively small, because it is difficult to develop the GEM project roundly in China.

Originality/value

This paper provides Chinese government with theoretical support so that the government can utilize limited resources to develop entrepreneurial activities. Meanwhile, it furthers foreign researchers and investors to understand the specific conditions in terms of Chinese entrepreneurial environments, opportunities, and capacities more clearly.

Citation

Mai, Y. and Gan, Z. (2007), "Entrepreneurial opportunities, capacities and entrepreneurial environments: Evidence from Chinese GEM data", Chinese Management Studies, Vol. 1 No. 4, pp. 216-224. https://doi.org/10.1108/17506140710828505