Entrepreneurship and Firm Performance. An Approach Based on Entrepreneurs’ Subjective Characteristics

The paper intends to provide a contribution to explaining the state of a socioeconomic context through an interpretation based on an entrepreneurial perspective. To this aim we consider the results of an empirical investigation that analyzes, within the entrepreneurial processes, some subjective characteristics of entrepreneurs with reference to a scheme of generation of entrepreneurship and the factors that promote or inhibit this dynamic. In particular, three different profiles of entrepreneurs were identified; the prevailing profile is based on family factors. Furthermore, it emerges that the system of policy measures to promote entrepreneurship appears inconsistent with the aimof spreading the culture of firms and entrepreneurship so as to create new entrepreneurship to support local economic development. The results appear to be consistent with recent theories according to which the development of some areas could be supported by reducing business turnover, as well as by encouraging firms to operate in more innovative industries. The conclusion is to apply new entrepreneurship policies, based on entrepreneurs’ subjective characteristics, which are more selective toward entrepreneurs in terms of their probability of reaching success