Abstract
This study explores the pre-requisites of entrepreneurs and self-employed to develop a social identity. It is argued that forming of an identity is facilitated by distinctiveness and homogeneity of basic values and social connectedness. Based on the European Social Survey, the study assesses empirically (1) which values do entrepreneurs hold and how well they are embedded in the society and (2) how entrepreneurs differ form people in paid labour in their values and social connectedness. Furthermore, these pre-requisites for forming a social identity are related to self-employment rates.
The results show that entrepreneurs have a basis for forming a social identity, which is more based on distinction from people in paid labour than on commonality. Interestingly the study also reveals that the social identity of entrepreneurs is based on conservative values and a resistance to change, which contradicts the idea of the Schumpetrian entrepreneur.
This study has benefited from fruitful suggestions of and discussions with participants at the G-Forum 2004 in Stuttgart, especially Hans-Georg Gmünden and Ute Stephan. I gratefully acknowledge this support.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Arum, R., Müller, W. (eds.) (2004): The re-emergence of self-employment. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Beck, U. (1996): Risk society. Towards a new modernity. London: Sage.
Berle, A. A, Means, G. C. (1932): The modern corporation and private property. London: Macmillan
Blumberg, B. F., Pfann, G. A. (2001): ìSelf-Employment and the Uncertainty Reduction of Social Capitalî IZA discussion paper No. 303, University of Bonn.
Bourdieu, P. (1984): Homo academicus. Stanford: Stanford University Press.
Cantillon, R. (1755): Essai sur la nature du commerce en général. edition 1964, New York: Kelley.
Coleman, J. S. (1992): Foundations of Social Theory. Harvard: Belknap Press.
Deaux, K. (1993): “Reconstructing social identity”. Personal Social Psychology Bulletin 19, 4–12.
Epstein, C. F. (1992): “Tinker-bells and pinups. The construction and reconstruction of gender boundaries at work.” pp. 232–256 in M. Lamount, M. Fournier (eds.) Cultivating differences. Symbolic boundaries and the making of inequality. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Esping-Andersen, G. (ed.) (1993): Changing classes. London: Sage.
Gerschenkron, A. (1966): “The modernization of entrepreneurship” in M. Weiner (ed.) Modernization. The dynamics of growth. New York: Basic Books.
Goldthorpe, J. H. (1987): Social mobility and class structure. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
Hannan, M. T., Freeman, J. (1989): Organizational Ecology. Harvard: Harvard University Press.
Jenkins, R. (1996): Social Identity. London: Routledge.
Kirzner, I. (1973): Competition and entrepreneurship. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Knight, F. (1921): Risk, uncertainty and profit. New York: Houghton Mifflin.
Lamont M., Molnár, V. (2002): “The study of boundaries in the social sciences” Annual Review of Sociology 28, 167–195.
McClelland, D. C. (1961): The achieving society. Princeton: Van Nostrand.
Miner, J. B. (1997): A psychological typology of successful entrepreneurs. New York: Quorum Books.
Parsons, T. (1937): The structure of social action. New York: Mc Graw Hill.
Penrose, E. (1959): The growth of firms. Oxford: Blackwell.
Prentice, D. A., Miller, D. T. (1999): Cultural divides. Understanding and overcoming group conflicts. New York: Russel Sage Foundation.
Reid, I. (1998): Class in Britain. London: Polity.
Ros, M., Schwartz, S. H., Surkiss, S. (1999): “Basic individual values, work values and the meaning of work.” Applied psychology. An international review 48, 49–71.
Say, J. B. (1845): A treatise on political economy. Philadelphia: Grigg & Elliot.
Schumpeter, J. (1934): The theory of economic development. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Schumpeter, J. (1942): Capitalism, socialism and democracy. New York: Harper & Row.
Schwartz, S. H. (1992): “Universals in the context and structure of values. Theoretical advances and empirical tests in 20 countries.” pp. 1–65 in M. Zanna (ed.) Advances in experimental social psychology Vol. 25. New York: Academic Press.
Schwartz, S. H. (1994): “Are there universal aspects in the structure and content of human values.” Journal of Social Issues 50, 19–45.
Sidanius J., Pratto, F. (1999): Social dominance. An intergroup theory of social hierarchy and oppression. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Tajfel, H., Turner, J. (1985): “The social identity theory of intergroup behavior.” Pp.7–24 in S. Worchel and W. Austin (eds.) Psychology of intergroup relations. Chicago: Nelson-Hall.
Thorton, P. (1999): “The sociology of entrepreneurship.” Annual Review of Sociology 25, 19–46.
Weber, M. (1904/05): Die protestantische Ethik und der Geist des Kapitalismus. Weinheim; Beltz (2000).
White, H. (1992): Identity and control. A structural theory of social action. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Wright, E. O. (1985): Classes. London: Verso.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2006 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Blumberg, B.F. (2006). What Distinguishes Entrepreneurs? A Comparative Study of European Entrepreneurs from a Social Identity Perspective. In: Achleitner, AK., Klandt, H., Koch, L.T., Voigt, KI. (eds) Jahrbuch Entrepreneurship 2005/06. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-28361-7_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-28361-7_9
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-28360-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-28361-4
eBook Packages: Business and Economics (German Language)