Laurina Zhang, Assistant Professor of Strategy, Ivey Business School, Western University

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Date: Friday, November 18, 2016 -11:30am to 1:00pm

Location: Rafik B. Hariri Building, Room 310, McDonough School of Business

Presenter: Laurina Zhang (new window), Assistant Professor of Strategy, Ivey Business School, Western University


Paper: Who does (not) Benefit from Entrepreneurship Programs?

Abstract: We evaluate the impact of an entrepreneurship training program by comparing career decisions among applicants who are accepted into the program with applicants who are program finalists but not accepted. We find that participating in the program increases the likelihood of subsequent entrepreneurship but this is not uniform across participants. The relationship between program participation and subsequent entrepreneurial activities is significantly less pronounced for applicants with ex-ante resources and capabilities in entrepreneurship, measured by prior entrepreneurship experience and interview scores. This suggests the program is most effective for people who otherwise would not have developed entrepreneurial capabilities and have more limited access to entrepreneurial opportunities. We provide descriptive evidence that the program provides participants with networking benefits and discuss implications for entrepreneurship strategy and policy.

The BEPP seminar series showcases the scholarship of leading faculty from prominent universities across the nation and around the world. The CBPP presents this seminar series jointly with the Strategy, Economics, Ethics and Public Policy faculty of the McDonough School of Business, a multi-disciplinary group whose primary research and teaching interests lie in Economics, International Business, International Political Economy, Organizational Theory, and Strategy.