Title: Entrepreneurship in China during the transition from state ownership to free market: case study of a woman entrepreneur (1994 to 2010)

Authors: Li Lin; Pier A. Abetti

Addresses: Lally School of Management and Technology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy, NY 12180–3590, USA ' Lally School of Management and Technology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy, NY 12180–3590, USA

Abstract: This 17-year case history presents the experiences of Li Lin, a Chinese entrepreneur, during China's transition from a socialist to a free-market economy (1994-2010). Li Lin started two companies under very difficult circumstances: the first private foreign automobile repair and maintenance shop in Beijing, and an educational testing service used by five million English students at Chinese primary and high schools. Venture capital was scarce and Li faced additional challenges as a young woman dealing with older male government officials. The key issues faced by Li Lin and the factors that contributed to her success and failure are analysed.

Keywords: Chinese entrepreneurship; English language education; educational assessment; automobile industry; automotive repair and maintenance; venture capital; guanxi; woman entrepreneurs; female entrepreneurs; economic transition; China; vehicle repair and maintenance; socialist economy; free-market economy; gender issues; educational testing services; primary schools; high schools; education.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEIM.2012.051938

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, 2012 Vol.16 No.3/4, pp.137 - 158

Published online: 31 Jul 2014 *

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