Title: Social entrepreneurship and institutional environment in an emerging economy

Authors: Vishal Vyas; Sonika Raitani; Vidhu K. Mathur

Addresses: ABV – Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management, Morena Link Road, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, 474015, India ' Faculty of Management Studies, Mody University of Science and Technology, Lakshmangarh Distt. Sikar, Rajasthan, 332311, India ' IILM Academy of Higher Learning, Jaipur, Rajasthan, 302033, India

Abstract: Social entrepreneurship in India has progressed significantly over the last decade. Social entrepreneurs - those who bring an entrepreneurial approach to solving social problems - are a growing breed in India. There is a lack of studies related to social entrepreneurship in literature. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the association between the institutional environment and social entrepreneurial self-efficacy. Based on the existing literature and theories, we have first proposed a model, and then empirically tested it using the structural equation modelling technique. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire from a sample of 284 entrepreneurial students of Rajasthan based on quota sampling. Analysis resulted that regulatory, normative and cognitive environment positively influence the social entrepreneurial self-efficacy. Results suggested that financial assistance, social legitimacy and acknowledgement are the most important factors necessary to enhance the growth of social entrepreneurship in India. Training is vital to create a pool of social entrepreneurs.

Keywords: social entrepreneurship; self-efficacy; institutional environments; entrepreneurs; India; SEM; structural equation modelling; emerging economies; regulatory environments; normative; cognitive; financial assistance; social legitimacy; acknowledgement; entrepreneurial growth; training.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSEI.2014.064825

International Journal of Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation, 2014 Vol.3 No.2, pp.106 - 121

Received: 08 Mar 2014
Accepted: 08 Apr 2014

Published online: 30 Sep 2014 *

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