East-West Differences in Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy: Implications for Entrepreneurship Education in Transition Economies

Abstract

Undergraduate business students in Croatia and the United States were surveyed to assess differences in entrepreneurial self-efficacy between the two groups. Controlling for the effects of entrepreneurial orientation and gender, self-efficacy was lower among Croatian students for tasks associated with the marshaling phase of venture creation process. No significant differences were found between the two groups in self-efficacy for tasks associated with the searching, planning, and implementing phases. Results suggest that while venture creation resources are relatively scarce in transition economies, entrepreneurship education programs in both the East and West need more emphasis on developing skills related to resource gathering.