COVID-19 impediments and business start-ups in Pakistan: Evidence from the second wave of the pandemic

Abstract

The present paper examines COVID-19 impediments and business start-ups in Pakistan when the country entered the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study selected entrepreneurs in Pakistan to explore the effects of the second wave. The study findings highlight the significant negative impacts of fear of COVID-19 (FC), COVID-19 stress and anxiety (SA), and perceptions of the arrival of COVID-19's second wave (ASW) on business start-ups (BS). The findings may support policy makers in diminishing the fear, anxiety, and negative perceptions of the arrival of COVID-19 waves.