Entrepreneurial Activities and Level of Development in Morocco: Empirical Investigation from Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Data

Abstract

The purpose of this article, which exploits data gathered by Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM, 2009), is to establish a typology of countries based on the intentions and the level of entrepreneurial activities while focusing on the position of Morocco. We then test the form of the relationship that links the level of development of the countries to the level of intentions and entrepreneurial activity by relying on the techniques of multidimensional analysis and ordinary least squares (OLS). Results show that unlike popular belief, high-income countries are weakly involved in entrepreneurial activities. They also show that Moroccans have very favourable perceptions and intentions of entrepreneurship. However, the level of entrepreneurial activity at an early stage remains lower than the one recorded in other countries such as Yemen and Uganda. Thus in Morocco, policymakers should seize the opportunity linked to the very high status of the entrepreneur to encourage enterprise creation, and therefore wealth creation.