Empowering entrepreneurial intention through entrepreneurial self-efficacy: comparison of farmers with and without entrepreneurial experience in Taiwan

Abstract

ABSTRACT On the basis of an integration of entrepreneurial event theory and the theory of planned behaviour, this study tested the mediating effects of entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) on the entrepreneurial intentions (EIs) of farmers in Taiwan (n = 970) and distinguished differences between those who had entrepreneurial experience and those who did not. The results determined that the planning aspect of ESE served as a robust mediator, and the entrepreneurial attitude of the participants had the greatest effect on their EIs, followed by entrepreneurial alertness, bridging social capital, and subjective norms. The results also clarified that the effects generated from entrepreneurial attitude for those with prior entrepreneurial experience were stronger than for those without, whereas the effects generated from ESE and entrepreneurial alertness for those without experience appeared stronger than for those with entrepreneurial experience.