Abstract

This paper aims to discuss the concept of growth aspirations and growth intentions, as well as to identify factors that influence growth aspirations expressed by students with regard to their future businesses. On the basis of a literature review potential determinants of growth aspirations have been identified and tested empirically using data obtained from 223 students from the Pomeranian region in Poland. The authors use Binomial Logistic Regression to propose an econometric model with endogenous variable Growth Aspiration. The results of the study show that from the set of chosen variables, surprisingly some turned out to be statistically insignificant i.a. entrepreneurial self-efficacy, entrepreneurial intention or risk propensity. Eventually, four of the variables have been found to influence declared growth aspirations of respondents in a statistically significant way, namely: gender, declared resistance to stress, perception of higher income being one of the most attractive feature of entrepreneurship and belief that prestige also belongs to the most attractive features of entrepreneurship. Research results are limited to students from one university only and as such, they cannot be perceived as representative for the whole country. Nevertheless, the findings of empirical analysis of growth aspirations determinants allow to identify factors that may decide whether entrepreneurial endeavours undertaken in the future will be intended to be high growth businesses. The paper contributes to a better understanding of the difference between growth aspirations and growth intentions. It also shows what factors shape business growth aspirations of students, which may impact the actual growth of their businesses in the future.

Citations

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