Entrepreneurial desirability and intent among youth in Bhutan

Abstract

The Kingdom of Bhutan has embarked on an ambitious programme of entrepreneurial training for youth, with the objective of stimulating increased new venture formation and job creation. The entrepreneurship literature on the drivers of entrepreneurial intent is well–developed for the case of opportunity–seeking individuals in developed countries, but the literature around intent for necessity–based entrepreneurship in emerging countries is much less developed. This study is an exploration into entrepreneurial intent and the precursors of desirability and positive social norms affecting the career decisions of these youths. We surveyed 364 young people with an express interest in business and entrepreneurship, located in Bhutan and Canada (as a typical representative of the scope of prior research into entrepreneurial intent). Our results demonstrate higher entrepreneurial intent and more positive attitudes and social norms in Bhutan than in Canada. These results suggest that new entrepreneurship training programmes in Bhutan should be designed to focus primarily on other aspects, such as building skills and acquiring resources.