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Cultivating Entrepreneurs: Unpacking the Interplay of Ecosystem, Support, and Attitude in Driving Entrepreneurial Action

Introduction

Cultivating entrepreneurs: unpacking the interplay of ecosystem, support, and attitude in driving entrepreneurial action. Investigates how entrepreneurial ecosystem, educational, and institutional support shape university students' entrepreneurial behavior via attitude. Reveals distinct support roles for venture creation.

Abstract

This study investigates how perceptions of the entrepreneurial ecosystem (EE), educational support (PES), and institutional support (PIS) influence entrepreneurial behavior (EB) through the mediating role of attitude toward entrepreneurship (ATE). Grounded in the Theory of Planned Behavior and institutional theory, we propose an integrated model tested with data from 450 university students in Gujranwala, Pakistan, using structured questionnaires and regression-based mediation analysis. Results demonstrate that all three environmental factors significantly enhance entrepreneurial attitude, with educational support emerging as the strongest antecedent. Attitude itself powerfully predicts entrepreneurial behavior. While both the entrepreneurial ecosystem and educational support exhibit significant direct effects on behavior alongside their indirect effects through attitude, institutional support operates exclusively through attitude mediation, showing no direct impact on entrepreneurial actions. The findings confirm full mediation for institutional support: Its influence on behavior is entirely channeled through cultivating favorable entrepreneurial attitudes. In contrast, ecosystem perceptions and educational support demonstrate partial mediation, maintaining complementary direct effects on behavior beyond their impact on attitude. This highlights context-driven pathways, where institutional support functions primarily as a risk-mitigating attitude shaper in emerging economies with perceived institutional voids, while ecosystem and educational factors concurrently enable action through both psychological and resource-based pathways. The study advances entrepreneurship theory by integrating macro-environmental and micro-psychological perspectives, revealing distinct mechanisms through which support structures translate into venture creation. Practical implications emphasize: Prioritizing attitude cultivation in entrepreneurship education programs; enhancing visibility of ecosystem resources to strengthen perceived support, and addressing institutional barriers to improve risk perceptions among nascent entrepreneurs.

Review

This study, "Cultivating Entrepreneurs: Unpacking the Interplay of Ecosystem, Support, and Attitude in Driving Entrepreneurial Action," presents a robust investigation into the multi-faceted drivers of entrepreneurial behavior, particularly within an emerging economy context. The paper is commendably grounded in established theories, integrating the Theory of Planned Behavior with institutional theory to propose a nuanced model. Its key strength lies in uncovering distinct mediation pathways: demonstrating full mediation for institutional support through entrepreneurial attitude, while entrepreneurial ecosystem and educational support exhibit partial mediation with complementary direct effects on behavior. The finding that educational support is the strongest antecedent of entrepreneurial attitude is particularly salient, offering a clear direction for educational interventions. The quantitative approach, utilizing data from a substantial sample of university students in Pakistan, provides empirical evidence for these complex relationships, significantly advancing our understanding of how macro-environmental factors translate into micro-level entrepreneurial actions. While the study provides valuable insights, certain aspects warrant further consideration. The generalizability of findings from a specific city in Pakistan to all "emerging economies with perceived institutional voids" should be discussed with appropriate caution, acknowledging potential variations across different contexts. The exclusive focus on university students, while a common and valid sample for nascent entrepreneurship, might limit the applicability of the "entrepreneurial behavior" construct, which can encompass a wider spectrum beyond early-stage intentions or actions in this specific demographic. A more detailed elaboration on the operationalization of "entrepreneurial behavior" and the specific elements measured within "perceptions of entrepreneurial ecosystem" would enhance the methodological transparency and allow for a clearer assessment of the findings' scope. Additionally, a deeper theoretical discussion on *why* institutional support exclusively functions as a "risk-mitigating attitude shaper" without direct behavioral impact, contrasting it with the other factors, could further enrich the paper's contribution. Overall, this is a timely and important contribution to entrepreneurship research, particularly for its focus on an emerging economy. The explicit identification of context-driven pathways and distinct mechanisms through which support structures influence entrepreneurial action offers critical theoretical advancements. Practically, the findings provide actionable insights for policymakers, educators, and support organizations. The emphasis on cultivating entrepreneurial attitude through education, enhancing the visibility of ecosystem resources, and addressing institutional barriers to mitigate risk perceptions directly informs the design of more effective entrepreneurship development programs. This research sets a strong foundation for future studies to explore these nuanced relationships in diverse cultural and economic settings, thereby fostering a deeper understanding of global entrepreneurship.

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