Becoming an Entrepreneur: a Diversity of Factors, Types and Pathways

Authors

  • Maria das Dores Guerreiro
    Affiliation

    ISCTE-Instituto Universitario de Lisboa

  • Ana Caetano
    Affiliation

    ISCTE-Instituto Universitario de Lisboa

  • Eduardo Rodrigues
    Affiliation

    ISCTE-Instituto Universitario de Lisboa

  • Margarida Barroso
    Affiliation

    ISCTE-Instituto Universitario de Lisboa

  • Ana Isabel Couto
    Affiliation

    ISCTE-Instituto Universitário de Lisboa

https://doi.org/10.3311/PPso.8688

Abstract

This paper is the result of a research focused on the study of entrepreneurial patterns, contexts and experiences. Its particular objectives are the analysis of the different pathways to become an entrepreneur. On the basis of in-depth interviews to women and men entrepreneurs about their individual trajectories, a typology of access to entrepreneurship is proposed. This categorisation expresses different combinations of social factors and places particular emphasis on the effects that gender and qualifications have on the decision to become self-employed, without neglecting the importance of socioeconomic circumstances, interpersonal networks and family relationships.

Keywords:

Entrepreneurship, gender, qualifications

Published Online

2016-02-10

How to Cite

Guerreiro, M. das D., Caetano, A., Rodrigues, E., Barroso, M., Couto, A. I. (2016) “Becoming an Entrepreneur: a Diversity of Factors, Types and Pathways”, Periodica Polytechnica Social and Management Sciences, 24(2), pp. 74–82. https://doi.org/10.3311/PPso.8688

Issue

Section

Articles