Transformations  in
Business & Economics

ENTREPRENEURIAL MOTIVATION: A CROSS COUNTRY COMPARISON BETWEEN POLISH AND SOUTH AFRICAN STUDENTS
Natanya Meyer, Sebastian Kot

ABSTRACT. Youth unemployment is a global concern not only in developing countries but also in many other economies. Contrary to South Africa's significantly high youth unemployment rate of 55.2 per cent, as measured for Q1 (2019), Poland managed to achieve a low rate of 11.6 per cent for Q4 (2018). The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a statistically significant difference in entrepreneurial motivation between Polish and South African students. The study primarily made use of empirical data collected through a self-administered research questionnaire. A convenience sampling technique was used and a total of 580 usable questionnaires were received (287 from Poland and 293 from South Africa). The collected data were analysed through principal component analysis, internal consistency and reliability analysis, construct validity analysis, descriptive statistics and an independent sample t-test. Polish students reported a much higher mean compared to South African students concerning motivation to start a business.

KEYWORDS:  motivation, students, youth entrepreneurship, Poland, South Africa.

JEL classification:  L26.