The antecedents of sustainability-oriented entrepreneurial intentions: An exploratory study of Angolan higher education students

Abstract

Currently, economic recovery is being affected by the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic, climate shocks, logistical interruptions in the supply of goods, global inflation, and rising commodity prices due to the war in Ukraine. By proposing a new modified conceptual model of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) oriented toward sustainability, this study aims to analyze, in an exploratory way, the influence of three new antecedents (propensity to take risks, perceived creativity, and proactive personality) on the dimensions of TPB and the sustainable entrepreneurial intention of Angolan students. A quantitative methodology was used by applying the Partial Least Square (PLS) method to a sample of 308 responses from Angolan students attending higher education in Angola. The results show that the TPB dimensions positively influence the sustainability-oriented entrepreneurial intentions of students in Angola. Furthermore, the dimensions of the TPB may have as antecedents and, therefore, be explained by the risk-taking propensity, the proactive personality, and the perceived creativity, positively influencing the dimensions of the TPB and stimulating the sustainable entrepreneurial intention in Angola. We demonstrate through an extended TPB model that there are antecedents of TPB that can be learned and stimulated, positively influencing entrepreneurial intention and, as such, entrepreneurial activity in Angola. Thus, these results are particularly interesting for policymakers, higher education institutions, and students. This study proposes a new conceptual model oriented towards sustainable entrepreneurship that includes the TPB dimensions and three new personality factors as antecedents. In this work, we intend to contribute to accelerating economic growth in Angola, stimulating entrepreneurial activity, and simultaneously contributing to achieving the sustainable development goals set out in the 2030 Agenda.