Entrepreneurs as cultural heroes: A cross‐cultural, interdisciplinary perspective

Purpose This exploratory, interdisciplinary, cross‐cultural study attempt to examine the hypothesis that in a country, where entrepreneurs have high status, individuals will describe themselves as more entrepreneurial, will exhibit greater risk‐taking tendency and more will be involved in entrepreneurial activity. Design/methodology/approach The study included MBA students in Israel, the USA and Hungary who were asked to compare the social status of entrepreneurs with that of other professionals, rate themselves on traits that were identified as characterizing successful entrepreneurs, and rate the risk they were willing to take to join a start‐up. Findings Results showed that Israelis perceived entrepreneurs as having higher social status than Americans and Hungarians. Israelis also demonstrated greater risk taking expressed in the readiness to leave a secure job to join a start‐up. Israelis and Americans rated themselves higher than Hungarians on initiative, love of challenge and independence, the three traits rated highest by actual entrepreneurs. Cautious attempt was made to relate these findings to the total entrepreneurial activity in the three countries and the percentage of adults in the population who start new businesses. Originality/value The study contributes to theory and resarch on entrepreneurship by demonstrating the potential inherent in a cross‐cultural, interdisciplinary perspective in general, and the connection between the social status of entrepreneurs and actual entrepreneurial activity in particular.