Title: Entrepreneurs' human and social capital: direct and reinforcing benefits for export

Authors: Shayegheh Ashourizadeh; Shahamak Rezaei; Thomas Schott; Jan Vang

Addresses: Faculty of Entrepreneurship University of Tehran, Farshi Moghaddam St., Kargar Shomali St., 1439813141, Tehran, Iran ' Department of Social Society and Globalisation, Roskilde University, Building 25.3, P.O. Box 260, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark ' Dept of Entrepreneurship and Relationship Management University of Southern Denmark, Engstien 1, 6000 Kolding, Denmark ' Department of Business and Management Aalborg University, Frederikskaj 10b, 1 floor, 2450 SV, Denmark

Abstract: It is widely acknowledged that entrepreneurs' human capital in form of education and social capital in form of networking are mutually beneficial and also that both human and social capital benefit their performance. Here, the hypothesis is that human and social capital, in combination, provide added value and jointly add a further boost to performance, specifically if the form of exporting. Global Entrepreneurship Monitor provides data on 52,946 entrepreneurs, who reported on exporting and networking for advice. Hierarchical linear modelling shows that human capital promotes social capital, that human capital and social capital (specifically networking in the international environment, work-place, professions and market, but not in the private sphere) both benefit export directly and that human capital amplifies the benefit of social capital, especially through international networking.

Keywords: entrepreneurs; human capital; social capital; networks; exports; Global Entrepreneurship Monitor; GEM; education; exporting; international networking.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2014.059476

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2014 Vol.21 No.2, pp.246 - 267

Published online: 31 May 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article