Values or competencies? Explaining collective social entrepreneurial intention among young people: a mixed-methods approach

Purpose This study aims to examine how young people develop the intention to create a social economy enterprise and addresses a key question: Do traditional models of entrepreneurial intention adequately explain collective and socially oriented forms of entrepreneurship? Design/methodology/approach Drawing on a sample of 2,000 young individuals (18–34) in Quebec, including 733 with entrepreneurial intentions, this study combines regression analysis and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to capture both net effects and configurational pathways. Findings The results challenge and qualify dominant intention models. Core predictors of the theory of planned behavior (TPB), such as entrepreneurial self-efficacy and attitude, are not significant in this context. Instead, intention is primarily shaped by subjective norms and value orientations, with altruistic values and low egoistic orientations emerging as central drivers. The configurational analysis reveals multiple pathways to intention, highlighting the role of socially embedded and value-driven mechanisms. Research limitations/implications The study relies on single-item measures and a context-specific indicator of social economy knowledge, which calls for cautious interpretation. Future research should develop validated multi-item scales and examine additional individual, relational and institutional factors, including identity and ecosystem influences. Practical implications The findings suggest that fostering collective social entrepreneurship among young people requires moving beyond traditional skill-based approaches. Educational and support programs should emphasize value development, collective engagement and awareness of the social economy, while addressing persistent misconceptions. Originality/value By integrating the value-attitude-behavior model with the TPB, this study demonstrates that individual-centric models have limited explanatory power in collective social entrepreneurship contexts. It reframes entrepreneurial intention as a socially embedded and value-driven process, extending the boundaries of intention-based models in entrepreneurship research.