Government involvement in entrepreneurship and new business creation in Australia: A quantitative analysis of public perceptions and opinions

Abstract

In order to determine the range of Australian perceptions on new venture creation at the end of the decade of the 1980s, and in particular attitudes towards government involvement in fostering entrepreneurship, a major quantitative study was conducted. The survey involved more than 1500 Australians in face-to-face interviews (300 in each mainland capital city) chosen on a random basis.An analysis of the data provides an assessment of the Australian general public's perceptions in three key areas: their understanding of the word 'entrepreneur'; their rating of importance of new venture creation; their belief in government involvement in fostering new venture creation.It is believed to be the first study attempting to quantify an entire nation's perceptions in three areas vital to creators of national economic and industry policies.Keywords: government entrepreneurship-fostering policy; public understanding of entrepreneurship; rating importance of new business creation; belief in government involvement.

Government Bureaucracy, Transactional Impediments, and Entrepreneurial Intentions

“…Most research has focused on barriers to growth (Brännback et al, 2008b;Butler and Hansen, 1991;Donckels and Courtmans, 1990;Drori and Lerner, 2002;Hindle and Gillin, 1991). Few studies have investigated how macro-environmental variables augment the individual-level perceptions of culture on influencing individual intentionality.…”

“…Despite previous research identifying many of the contextual antecedents of entrepreneurial intentions, little research has examined the role that the macroenvironment, including government corruption as well as governmental polices, have on the intention to start a business. Most research has focused on barriers to growth (Brännback et al, 2008b;Butler and Hansen, 1991;Donckels and Courtmans, 1990;Drori and Lerner, 2002;Hindle and Gillin, 1991). Few studies have investigated how macro-environmental variables augment the individual-level perceptions of culture on influencing individual intentionality.…”

“…This study addresses the gap between individual and macro-levels in the literature, by linking the role of cultural and societal factors as they influence intentions. Specifically, we analyze how perceptions of the culture and the social environment in a country influence the intention to start a new venture (Hindle and Gillin, 1991;Ramachandran, 1989). We assess perceptions of culture along six dimensions (Stephan, 2007) plus country as a proxy for general society:…”

An entrepreneurship policy framework for high-growth firms: navigating between policies for picking winners and market failure

“…This legacy extends from the 1980s when governments were rightly pillaried for scandals such as the collapse of the State Bank in South Australia, the fiasco of the Victorian Economic Development Corporation (VEDC) in Victoria, the corruption of the 'White Shoe Brigade' in Queensland and the crony capitalism of 'W.A. Inc.' in Western Australia (Hindle and Gillin, 1991). We will argue in the concluding section of this paper that such policy reticence is an abrogation of responsibility rather than a rightful reticence to go where governments should not go.…”