Entrepreneurial distance: A novel evaluation tool of entrepreneurial intention

Abstract

Entrepreneurship and new business creation drive economic growth and employment generation. In this study we have developed a new way to evaluate entrepreneurial intention by looking at the respondents' opinion towards entrepreneurs and their own self-reported abilities. We have coined this methodology as the entrepreneurial distance. This study is based in an international sample of 264 respondents gathered through an online questionnaire. The results show that the different entrepreneurial distances (positive, negative, and zero) follow the distributions we have hypothesized. Additionally, across the countries studied, entrepreneurs are perceived to be dynamic, innovative, willing to take risks, having a good entrepreneurial vision and being able to create jobs. These findings have important implications for educators and policy makers to help in the promotion of entrepreneurship.