Search Results (63)

Entrepreneurship serves as a vital engine of economic development, yet the mechanisms translating entrepreneurial intention into behavior have gradually emerged. This study employs bibliometric analysis of 61 SSCI-indexed articles (2014–2024) using CiteSpace to examine co-authorship networks, co-citation patterns, and research hotspots. Our findings demonstrate that individual-level factors (personality traits, entrepreneurial self-efficacy, and entrepreneurship education) drive both entrepreneurial intention and entrepreneurial behavior. More importantly, environmental factors (university milieu, regional social legitimacy, and national cultural dimensions) moderate the relationship between entrepreneurial intention and behavior. The study also identifies a temporal pattern in the entrepreneurial intention–behavior correlation. These results advance theoretical understanding of the intention–behavior transition and offer practical insights for entrepreneurship education and policy design. Full article

In academia, innovation intentions among students are a highly sought-after outcome due to their overarching positive impacts on performance and well-being, especially in the higher education context. This research addresses entrepreneurial education and its influence on innovation intentions across several universities in Beirut, Lebanon. The research also examines the indirect effects of opportunity recognition and psychological capital as mediators and fear of failure as a moderator. Through the lens of the theory of planned behavior, the stimulus-organism-response model, and the entrepreneurial event model, a survey was designed. A total of 263 samples were collected from the students of three universities in Beirut where the academic setting was English, and international students were present. Using Partial Least Squares—Structural Equation Modeling, the data was analyzed, and the hypotheses were supported. Results suggest that the learning environment in universities is a major determinant of innovative outcomes for students. However, implementation of entrepreneurial education alone cannot be as effective as it needs to be; it must be complemented by initiatives that enhance perceptions and internal capabilities of students to achieve innovation in their behaviors. This highlights the vitality of psychological capital and fear of failure in this context. Full article

This article summarizes the scope and content of the Special Issue (SI) entitled “Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Cartography for a Sustainable World” and its contribution to the global discourse regarding sustainability concerns. At the heart of the discussion in this SI lies: (i) GIS, a valuable tool and a means for modeling, designing, and analyzing (spatial) data and processes related to the pursuance of sustainability objectives at both local and global scales; and (ii) Cartography as a discipline, which through maps and visualizations can convey the present state. The latter can play a vital role in educating, empowering, and raising public awareness with regard to sustainability concerns on the one hand, and can form a basis for policy-makers, scientists, and citizens for articulating effective sustainability strategies on the other. The fulfillment of the SI goals is attained through a collection of 26 papers that delve into and attempt to visualize sustainability achievements or concerns on a variety of themes in different parts of the world. More specifically, the content of this collection of papers can be categorized into the following sustainability-related themes: Urbanization, Transportation, Carbon Emissions Management, Infrastructure, Rural Development, and Climate Change. The main conclusion is that planning and implementing sustainability policies is a challenging and multi-level task, and must be carried out within a fully dynamic decision environment. Although some progress has already been made, more intensive and collective efforts from scientists, governments, the entrepreneurial community, and citizens are needed in order for the ambitious goals of Agenda 2030 to be reached. Full article

In today’s evolving society, meaningful development cannot be fully realized without acknowledging the vital role of the electronics sector, especially as it functions within informal markets. These markets have become more than just centers of commerce; they serve as informal learning grounds where many young people acquire entrepreneurial skills, develop resilience, and find alternatives to social vices. For many, informal entrepreneurship is not just an option but a means of survival and self-empowerment. Despite their growing relevance, the link between the entrepreneurial abilities nurtured in these informal markets and actual business performance has not been adequately examined. This study, therefore, aimed to explore how informal electronics entrepreneurs in a developing economy navigate their environment, overcome challenges, and create wealth through vision, innovation, and calculated risk-taking. Anchored in institutional theory, the research employed a qualitative approach, using cluster, purposive, and simple random sampling to select participants from key informal business units. Interviews were conducted, transcribed, and analyzed using QSR NVivo 12, allowing for deep insight into the lived experiences of the entrepreneurs. Findings revealed that 78% of participants emphasized practical suggestions that aid informal business survival, such as customer-driven innovations, adaptive strategies, and avoiding confrontations with regulatory agencies. Key attributes such as foresight, adaptability, and risk management accounted for 66% of the variance in corporate success. Strategic and innovative approaches are enabling informal firms to endure and prosper, since 61% of respondents associated these competencies with organizational success. The new BSP framework, which integrates institutional and contingency theories, illustrates how informal enterprises endure by conforming to or opposing institutional pressures and adjusting to environmental changes. The results indicate that, when properly understood and supported, the informal electronics sector may develop sustainably. This study demonstrates that informal entrepreneurship is influenced by formal regulations, informal norms, and local enforcement mechanisms, therefore enhancing institutional theory and elucidating business behavior in developing nations. The Business Survival Paradigm [BSP] illustrates how informal enterprises navigate institutional obstacles to endure. It advocates for policies that integrate the official and informal sectors while fostering sustainable development. The paper advocates for ongoing market research to assist informal firms in remaining up-to-date. It implores authorities to acknowledge the innovative potential of the informal sector and to provide supportive frameworks for sustainable growth and formal transition where feasible. Full article

Entrepreneurship has long been a key driver of economic development across various countries. Investigating the determinants of entrepreneurial behaviour is essential for making a meaningful contribution to sustainable development. This study investigated the determinants of entrepreneurial behaviour among university of technology and TVET college students in South Africa, utilising the modified theory of planned behaviour. Specifically, the study explored how risk-taking propensity, financial and non-financial support, media, and gender influence perceived behavioural control, entrepreneurial intention, and behaviour. Additionally, the study tested the direct effects of perceived behavioural control on both entrepreneurial intention and entrepreneurial behaviour, as well as the direct effect of entrepreneurial intention on entrepreneurial behaviour. An online, structured, self-administered questionnaire was utilised to gather data from 496 finalyear diploma students at a university of technology and a TVET college, using a convenience sampling technique. Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was applied to analyse the data and test the postulated hypotheses. The findings revealed that non-financial support positively affected entrepreneurial intention, perceived behavioural control, and entrepreneurial behaviour, while financial support did not. Risk-taking propensity significantly influenced perceived behavioural control, entrepreneurial intention, and entrepreneurial behaviour. The results revealed that the gender was negatively related to perceived behavioural control, and female students exhibited lower perceived behavioural control than their male counterparts. However, gender showed no significant association with entrepreneurial intention or entrepreneurial behaviour. Media had a positive influence on both entrepreneurial intention and perceived behavioural control but did not significantly affect entrepreneurial behaviour. Additionally, both entrepreneurial intention and entrepreneurial behaviour were positively influenced by perceived behavioural control, while entrepreneurial intention also was positively associated with entrepreneurial behaviour. These findings underscore the critical role of fostering a supportive entrepreneurial environment in shaping entrepreneurial behaviour. This study provides valuable insights for policymakers and educators to cultivate an environment that supports students in developing as entrepreneurs. The results can inform policymakers in implementing support interventions aimed at enhancing entrepreneurial capacity among the youth. Promoting entrepreneurship is vital in achieving sustainable development goals through job creation and poverty alleviation. Full article

Urban land marketization is a strategy to alleviate land resource misallocation caused by government intervention, but there has been a debate regarding its effectiveness in reducing carbon emissions. This study examines the impact of market-oriented allocation of land resources on carbon emissions using panel data from 284 Chinese cities from 2007 to 2021. The results indicate four findings: (1) Urban land marketization can effectively reduce both the total carbon emission and carbon emission intensity, especially in the central and western cities, non-provincial capital cities, and resource-dependent cities. (2) Promoting land financing, expanding trade openness, and stimulating entrepreneurship are all significant mechanisms for the carbon emission reduction effect of urban land marketization. (3) As per capita income and environmental regulation increase, the impacts of land marketization on carbon emissions are nonlinear. (4) Surrounding cities’ carbon emissions are not mitigated due to administrative border barriers and regional protectionism. This paper sheds light on the role of land marketization in carbon emission reduction and thus provides practical policy implications for promoting economic transition and low-carbon development. Full article

There is a close connection between university student entrepreneurship programs and sustainable development, which are mutually reinforcing: university student entrepreneurship programs provide innovation and vitality for sustainable development, while concepts related to sustainable development can guide the development direction of university student entrepreneurship programs. College students are the driving force of innovation and entrepreneurship. In view of the problems of the failure rate of college students’ entrepreneurial projects, this article constructs a fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model based on the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method. Then, this study uses the hierarchical analysis method to clarify the comprehensive evaluation indexes affecting the maturity of college students’ entrepreneurial projects and takes a student entrepreneurial project of Qingdao University of Technology as an example. Ultimately, specific suggestions are offered to optimize the maturity of college students’ entrepreneurial projects based on the evaluation results so as to improve the probability of success of college students’ entrepreneurship. Great importance is placed on the quality of university entrepreneurship projects and the sustainability of society in this study. Full article

This study explores how Myanmar’s sustainable business environment influences entrepreneurs’ performance, focusing on the mediating role of knowledge spillover effects of foreign direct investment (KFDI). Data were gathered from 308 entrepreneurs across micro, small, medium, and large enterprises in Myanmar using online surveys via Google Forms and Microsoft Forms. The analysis employed partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) with SPSS 29 and SmartPLS 4. The results reveal that (i) the economic environment exerts a substantial positive influence on entrepreneurs’ performance; (ii) access to credit and the social environment show no discernible impact on entrepreneurs’ performance; (iii) both economic and social environments positively influence KFDI; (iv) access to credit has no effect on KFDI; and (v) KFDI partially mediates the relationship between the economic environment and entrepreneurs’ performance while fully mediating the relationship between the social environment and entrepreneurs’ performance. However, KFDI does not mediate the effect of access to credit on entrepreneurs’ performance. These findings underscore the critical role of sustainable economic and social environments in enhancing entrepreneurs’ performance and attracting foreign firms. Policymakers should prioritize these dimensions of the business environment to foster growth, maximize KFDI, and support long-term entrepreneurial success. This approach will not only ensure the economic vitality of Myanmar’s entrepreneurial ecosystem but also contribute to broader social and environmental sustainability. Full article

This research demonstrates that penny-wise acumen in costonomics can lead to significant financial gains, transforming costs into entrepreneurial gold for enterprises. The study aims to explore how effective financial management, through the application of cost management factors, can convert costs into entrepreneurial opportunities and drive long-term business sustainability. The research utilized exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (EFA and CFA), along with reliability analysis (Cronbach’s alpha), employing SPSS and AMOS software to examine the relationships between critical cost management factors. The findings reveal strong correlations among these factors, each playing a vital role in optimizing cost efficiency and enhancing business performance. Cost Management Effectiveness (CME) emphasizes clear cost structures, supplier evaluations, and overall cost control. Strategic Cost Management (SCM) focuses on identifying cost drivers and benchmarking against industry standards to uncover cost reduction opportunities. Cost Optimization Mastery (COM) involves monitoring production costs and assessing cost quality to ensure financial stability, while Cost Management Policy (CMP) stresses the importance of robust policies and employee engagement in controlling costs. Lastly, Cost Management Vigilance (CMV) highlights the need for the active monitoring of variable and overhead costs to maintain financial discipline. This research underscores that businesses in the manufacturing, hospitality, and commercial sectors can successfully leverage these cost management practices to foster competitive entrepreneurship and sustainable growth. Future studies should explore the role of emerging technologies in cost management to uncover new strategies for profitability and sustainability. Full article

For several decades, entrepreneurship education (EE) has been identified as vital for preparing students to succeed in a changing economic landscape. Specifically, EE shapes students’ entrepreneurial intentions into actions. Considering the evolving expectations from graduates, this study explores South African entrepreneurship educators’ perspectives regarding the ideal educator and effective teaching strategies to shape the development of students’ entrepreneurial intentions. This empirical qualitative study examines data collected from 14 entrepreneurship educators across various South African public higher education institutions, collected using an open-ended questionnaire. Thematic analysis revealed a strong consensus on the importance of real-world experience teaching and the limited integration of online methodologies in EE. The results also emphasized the need for educators to embody entrepreneurial qualities, such as practical experience and a hands-on approach, to foster students’ transition from intention to action. Despite the desire for more innovative, action-oriented teaching strategies, traditional teaching theory in entrepreneurship remains an essential modality in the EE framework. These findings suggest that effective EE practices should integrate experiential learning and innovative strategies while maintaining core theoretical foundations. Full article

Promoting the role of green finance (GF) in agricultural green transformation is essential for easing resource constraints and achieving sustainable agricultural development. Based on provincial-level data from 2006 to 2022, this study considers the China GF reform and innovation pilot zone as a quasi-natural experiment. It empirically examines the impact and mechanism of GF on agricultural green total factor productivity (AGTFP). The following results are obtained: (1) GF exerts a significant enhancement effect on AGTFP. (2) GF can improve AGTFP by increasing the degree of land transfer (LT). (3) The effect of GF on AGTFP is heterogeneous, and GF has a significant enhancement effect on high-environmental-regulation provinces, the eastern region, and nonmajor grain-producing regions. From these findings, this study suggests accelerating the development level of GF, improving LT policies, continuously stimulating rural entrepreneurial vitality, and further leveraging the role of GF in promoting agricultural green transformation through coordinating regional economic development. Full article

Communities in China’s high-density cities, like Shanghai, are evolving from traditional residential roles into vibrant centers of entrepreneurial innovation. This research delves into the development of community-supported entrepreneurial ecosystems (CSEEs) in the city, with a specific focus on the sustainable co-creation mechanisms facilitated by stakeholders, explored through a comparative study framework. By utilizing Kelly’s Repertory Grid Technique, 14 essential elements of co-creation are identified, which form the framework for classifying the cases into three distinct types. This study employs in-depth interviews and content analysis to analyze and contrast how these co-creation patterns are applied across cases representing each type. The results show that key factors, such as resource origins, the interaction between CSEEs and embedded communities, and participant selection strategies, significantly shape the variations in value co-creation mechanisms, processes, and outcomes. Recognizing the variety of co-creation models is crucial for enhancing both the vitality and efficiency of Shanghai’s CSEEs. Furthermore, this study offers valuable insights into managing co-creation efforts and predicting risks in similar contexts, contributing to the sustainable regeneration of urban areas through community-driven entrepreneurship and innovation. Full article

This study investigates the effectiveness of the Sibiu Impact Makers program, a 14-week social entrepreneurship initiative at Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, which integrates Design Thinking to develop entrepreneurial competencies among students from the faculties of Economic Sciences, Engineering, as well as Social Sciences and Humanities. Using a quasi-experimental design, the study employed a pre-and-post-analysis based on the EntreComp Framework to assess changes in entrepreneurial competencies, revealing significant post-program improvements. To situate this research within the broader academic landscape, a bibliometric analysis was conducted to identify trends linking Design Thinking and entrepreneurial education. The findings indicate that the program enhances entrepreneurial skills, with impact variations tied to students’ learning styles, as classified by the Honey and Mumford Learning Style Questionnaire. However, as a case study with a sample size of 58, findings may have limited generalizability. This research contributes to the discourse on personalized and experiential education, suggesting that integrating Design Thinking with tailored learning strategies can play a vital role in entrepreneurship education. Full article

Foreign direct investment (FDI) has become an important factor influencing corporate operational strategies, yet the impact of its inclusiveness on corporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance remains unclear. In this study, the correlation of city-level FDI inclusiveness with corporate-level ESG performance was investigated based on data from 1258 Chinese A-share listed companies between 2011 and 2021. The effects of FDI inclusiveness on corporate ESG performance and its underlying mechanisms were investigated. The findings indicate that an increase in FDI inclusiveness significantly improves corporate ESG performance. Additionally, the moderating role of corporate competitive advantage and urban entrepreneurial vitality was analyzed, and the findings indicate that an increase in urban FDI inclusiveness significantly improves corporate ESG performance. Managerial green attention and corporate innovation capability play intermediary roles in the overall impact, with the total impact being positively moderated by investor attention. Furthermore, the influence of FDI inclusiveness on corporate ESG performance exhibits significant heterogeneity resulting from variations in digital policies, environmental policies, and ownership structures. Full article

Women’s participation and leadership in technology and entrepreneurship are crucial for advancing innovation and ensuring inclusive economic development. Despite progress in gender equality, women in tech face challenges like under-representation and systemic biases. This research delves into the multifaceted experiences of women in tech innovation and entrepreneurship, highlighting the barriers they face and the strategies they use to overcome them. This study used a qualitative, observational design with semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis to explore the experiences and perceptions of entrepreneurial women in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) field. It was possible to conclude that entrepreneurial women exhibit a strong sense of autonomy, competence, and leadership, enabling them to manage their ventures independently and effectively. Also, the success of entrepreneurial women is multifaceted, combining personal fulfilment, professional achievements, and financial stability, with positive feedback and recognition playing a key role. Building strong social and supportive relationships is vital for entrepreneurial women, providing a sense of belonging, community, and emotional support. In this context, to empower women in STEM and entrepreneurship, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) should promote entrepreneurship as a career path, provide practical and value-based education, and foster a work environment of trust, communication, and continuous learning. Full article