Examining the Entrepreneurial Attitudes of Business Students: A Multi-Country Perspective

This study constitutes the second phase of a research project on the entrepreneurial attitudes of undergraduate business students. The initial study was based on a sample of students enrolled in the Small Business InstituteÂ� at multiple universities in the U.S. Interestingly, the findings indicated gender differences in entrepreneurial attitudes, and that past entrepreneurial exposure plays a critical role in shaping these attitudes. The results of the initial project have been well received, leading to four conference proceedings and two journal articles to date. The purpose of this new phase is to expand on the current body of work by including an international component since entrepreneurship is viewed by many countries as both an economic and social tool for development and growth. The two specific countries of interest are China and Brazil due to their importance within their region and the overall global economy. In addition, much of the recent economic growth within these two countries can be directly linked to the development of a more entrepreneurial spirit (Li, Zhang & Matlay, 2003).

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