Risk, Uncertainty and Entrepreneurship: Evidence From a Lab-in-the-Field Experiment

Arbeitspapier

Theory predicts that entrepreneurs have distinct attitudes towards risk and uncertainty, but empirical evidence is mixed. To better understand the unique behavioral characteristics of entrepreneurs and the causes of these mixed results, we perform a large ‘lab-in-the-field’ experiment comparing entrepreneurs to managers – a suitable comparison group – and employees (n = 2288). The results indicate that entrepreneurs perceive themselves as less risk averse than managers and employees, in line with common wisdom. However, when using experimental incentivized measures, the differences are subtler. Entrepreneurs are only found to be unique in their lower degree of loss aversion, and not in their risk or ambiguity aversion. This combination of results might be explained by our finding that perceived risk attitude is not only correlated to risk aversion but also to loss aversion. Overall, we therefore suggest using a broader definition of risk that captures this unique feature of entrepreneurs; their willingness to risk losses.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: Tinbergen Institute Discussion Paper ; No. 14-136/VII

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Entrepreneurship ; Field Experiments
• Subject: Entrepreneurs ; managers ; risk aversion ; loss aversion ; ambiguity aversion ; lab-in- the field experiment

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Koudstaal, Martin ; Sloof, Randolph ; van Praag, Mirjam
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Tinbergen Institute
• (where): Amsterdam and Rotterdam
• (when): 2014

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/107850
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:42 AM CET