Entry into entrepreneurship, endogenous adaption of risk attitudes and entrepreneurial survival

Abstract

Empirical studies use the assumption of stability in individual risk attitudes when searching for a relationship between attitude to risk and the decision to become and survive as an entrepreneur. We show that risk attitudes do not remain stable but face endogenous adaption when starting a new business. This adaption is associated with entrepreneurial survival. The results show that entrepreneurs with low risk tolerance before entering selfemployment and increased risk tolerance when self‐employed have a higher probability of survival than similar entrepreneurs experiencing a decrease in the willingness to take risks. We find the opposite results for entrepreneurs who express a higher willingness to take risks before becoming self‐employed: in this case, a decrease in tolerance of risk is correlated with an increasing survival probability.