Entrepreneurial intentions of nascent entrepreneurs motivated out of necessity

Abstract

Developing countries represent the majority of countries in the world; 160 of the 192 listed United Nations member countries are classified by the International Monetary Fund (2011) as ‘developing countries’. Developing countries are often characterized by extremes in wealth with significant proportions of the populations living in abject poverty - many in urban areas - while small concentrated proportions enjoy affluence (Massey, 1996; Luiz, 2006). Wealth extremes can contribute to economic and political instability and ultimately, if left unchecked, can lead to civil unrest and the destabilizing of regions as the effects of the unrest spread (Massey, 1996; Luiz, 2006; Arat, 2003). Thus, it is in the best interests of developed countries to assist in reducing poverty and to assist in the economic development of developing countries (Massey, 1996; Luiz, 2006; Arat, 2003).