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Article
Author(s)
Teemu Rantanen, Timo Toikko
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DOI:10.17265/1537-1514/2013.04.002
Affiliation(s)
Teemu Rantanen, Ph.D., Adjunct Professor, Vantaa Unit, Laurea University of Applied Sciences.
Timo Toikko, Ph.D., Adjunct Professor, School of Health Care and Social Work, Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences.
ABSTRACT
In this study, young people’s attitudes towards entrepreneurship are examined in the Helsinki-Uusimaa region of Finland. The theoretical framework of the study links with attitude research, in particular Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior. The second perspective is based on discussions of the welfare state and social values. In the study, it is asked what social psychological factors explain young people’s entrepreneurial intentions. Survey data (N = 873) were collected in electronic format from secondary and vocational schools. The questions were based on a multiple-choice Likert-scale. The analysis was undertaken using statistical methods, especially regression analysis. The results are mainly consistent with the theory of planned behavior: subjective norms and perceived control explain entrepreneurial intention. However, dependence between general entrepreneurial attitudes and entrepreneurial intention is not significant. The results demonstrate that there is no relation between social values and entrepreneurial intention in the Finnish context. Typically in social sciences, entrepreneurial discourse is linked to neo-liberal policy but, according to this study, entrepreneurship is a neutral issue among Finnish young people.
KEYWORDS
attitudes, entrepreneurial intention, entrepreneurship, Scandinavian welfare state, social values, theory of planned behavior
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