The Impact of Education, Economy and Culture on Entrepreneurial Motives, Barriers and Intentions: A Comparative Study of the United States and Turkey

Abstract

This study incorporates three primary perspectives used in international comparisons of entrepreneurial intentions—culture, economic conditions and education—in a study of attitudes toward entrepreneurship. Using samples drawn from two countries with distinctly different cultures, economies and education—Turkey and the United States—we develop and test hypotheses regarding the impact of these factors on entrepreneurial intentions and on perceptions of motives and barriers regarding entrepreneurship. For motive and barriers, we discuss and distinguish between intrinsic and extrinsic factors. We observe a number of significant differences between the two sample groups and significant relationships between explanatory factors, intentions and motives and barriers. We discuss the implications of the study for entrepreneurship education and for future research.