Is the tendency to engage in entrepreneurship genetic?

TY - JOUR

T1 - Is the tendency to engage in entrepreneurship genetic?

AU - Nicolaou, N

AU - Shane, S

AU - Cherkas, L

AU - Hunkin, J

AU - Spector, T D

PY - 2008/1

Y1 - 2008/1

N2 - We used quantitative genetics techniques to compare the entrepreneurial activity of 870 pairs of monozygotic (MZ) and 857 pairs of same-sex dizygotic (DZ) twins from the United Kingdom. We ran model-fitting analyses to estimate the genetic, shared environmental and nonshared environmental effects on the propensity of people to become entrepreneurs. We found relatively high heritabilities for entrepreneurship across different operationalizations of the phenomenon, with little effect of family environment and upbringing. Our findings suggest the importance of considering genetic factors in explanations for why people engage in entrepreneurial activity

AB - We used quantitative genetics techniques to compare the entrepreneurial activity of 870 pairs of monozygotic (MZ) and 857 pairs of same-sex dizygotic (DZ) twins from the United Kingdom. We ran model-fitting analyses to estimate the genetic, shared environmental and nonshared environmental effects on the propensity of people to become entrepreneurs. We found relatively high heritabilities for entrepreneurship across different operationalizations of the phenomenon, with little effect of family environment and upbringing. Our findings suggest the importance of considering genetic factors in explanations for why people engage in entrepreneurial activity

U2 - 10.1287/mnsc.1070.0761

DO - 10.1287/mnsc.1070.0761

M3 - Literature review

VL - 54

SP - 167

EP - 179

JO - MANAGEMENT SCIENCE

JF - MANAGEMENT SCIENCE

IS - 1

ER -