Title: Outlining the determinants of youth entrepreneurship in the Greek periphery

Authors: Dimitrios G. Ierapetritis, Dimitris Lagos, Chrysanthi K. Balomenou

Addresses: University of the Aegean, 3, Bizaniou St., Voula 16673, Athens, Greece. ' Department of Business, Administration, University of the Aegean, 6, Tsimara St., Imittos, Athens, 172 36, Greece. ' Department of Social Sciences, Hellenic Open University, 21, Psaron, St., Halandri, Athens, 152 32, Greece

Abstract: Based on the case study of the entrepreneurship in the Peloponnese Region, this paper explores the main characteristics of young entrepreneurs operating in the Greek periphery, the factors involved in encouraging or discouraging young entrepreneurs to set up an enterprise and the factors that hinder the success of those enterprises and often lead them to their closing down. The methodological framework of the survey is based on a series of personal interviews by means of a structured questionnaire with closed and open questions given to 70 young entrepreneurs from various sectors of the regional economy operating in the five prefectures in Peloponnese. The participants of the aforementioned field survey on youth entrepreneurship were entrepreneurs aged between 19 and 40. The statistical processing of the survey data results in a series of findings concerning the characteristics and the factors affecting youth entrepreneurship, which lead to the relevant regional policy proposals.

Keywords: youth; entrepreneurial policies; firm exits; regional development; Greece; determinants; Peloponnese; peripheries; success; failure; enterprises; regional economies; regions; regional policies; small and medium-sized enterprises; SMEs; entrepreneurship; young entrepreneurs.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2010.034959

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2010 Vol.11 No.2, pp.205 - 217

Published online: 31 Aug 2010 *

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