The Role of Social Influence, Culture, and Gender on Entrepreneurial Intent

This study examines the impact of the social influence of family, friends, and role models on entrepreneurial intent, as well as effects of parental entrepreneurial experience on entrepreneurial intent. It also examines how these social norms when combined with gender and national culture influence entrepreneurial intent. While finding significant variances between countries, using a sample of 2,164 university students from 14 countries, this study concludes that each of the three individual factors which comprise Ajzen's (1991) social norms contribute at a significant level to entrepreneurial intent across all countries, with the presence of parental experience contributing a small additional degree explanatory power. Culture is also found to influence entrepreneurial intent, with gender egalitarianism significantly impacting in particular the entrepreneurial intent of women.