In which cultural contexts do individual values explain entrepreneurship? An integrative values framework using Schwartz’s theories

Abstract

Answering research calls for better contextualisation of entrepreneurial behaviour, we examine the cultural contexts in which individuals with entrepreneurial values (Schwartz’s self-enhancement- and openness-to-change values) are most likely to be entrepreneurs. Culture is assessed through Schwartz’s cultural dimensions of mastery and egalitarianism. The results of multilevel logistic regressions with more than 35,000 respondents nested in 28 European countries support the hypotheses that individual values are more important for explaining entrepreneurship in non-entrepreneurial cultures (low in mastery and egalitarianism). Our results indicate that mastery compensates for openness-to-change, whereas egalitarianism reduces the impact of both self-enhancement and openness-to-change values.