Title: Composition of networks around entrepreneurs: cross-national comparisons in the Middle East and North Africa

Authors: Constance Van Horne; Lotfi Belkacem; Taha Ahmed Al Fusail

Addresses: College of Business, Zayed University, P.O. Box 144534, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates ' Research Laboratory for Economy, Management and Quantitative Finance, IHEC – University of Sousse, B.P. 40, Route de la ceinture, Sahloul III, 4054 Sousse, Tunisia ' Faculty of Commerce and Economics, Sana'a University, P.O. Box 1247, Harat Bi'r Ash Shaif, Sana'a, Yemen

Abstract: This paper investigates the composition of networks around entrepreneurs in the MENA region and how this composition differs amongst the 14 countries with regards to the size and diversity of the networks used at various stages of venture development. The findings indicate significant difference between entrepreneurs at various stages of venture development for network size and network diversity. The empirical results show that the more the network is diversified, the shorter the duration of the launch of the venture. The investigation also reveals that entrepreneurs with relative large networks are more likely to launch their business in a short time.

Keywords: entrepreneurs; entrepreneurial networks; network composition; MENA region; global entrepreneurship monitor; GEM; cross-national comparisons; Middle East; North Africa; venture development; network size; network diversity.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBG.2013.056872

International Journal of Business and Globalisation, 2013 Vol.11 No.4, pp.337 - 352

Published online: 21 Nov 2013 *

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