Entrepreneurial engagement and technical grants funding: Analysis of structurally behavioural determinants and economic factors

Entrepreneurial activity promotes economic growth and social development, particularly in emerging economies such as South Africa. This study investigates the influence of structural-behavioural determinants and economic factors on entrepreneurial engagement, focusing on the role of technical grants...

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Main Authors: Abiola John Asaleye, Thobeka Ncanywa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:Social Sciences and Humanities Open
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291125005893
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author Abiola John Asaleye
Thobeka Ncanywa
author_facet Abiola John Asaleye
Thobeka Ncanywa
author_sort Abiola John Asaleye
collection DOAJ
description Entrepreneurial activity promotes economic growth and social development, particularly in emerging economies such as South Africa. This study investigates the influence of structural-behavioural determinants and economic factors on entrepreneurial engagement, focusing on the role of technical grants using Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares and Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares for long-run analysis, variance decomposition from the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) for dynamic impact assessment, and VECM for causality analysis. The Autoregressive Distributed Lag and Canonical Cointegrating Regression models were employed for robustness checks, and the results remained consistent across these methods. The findings reveal that greater business freedom negatively influences entrepreneurship, suggesting that intensified competition and regulation may hinder small-scale ventures. Conversely, higher start-up costs, Technical Cooperation Grants, and Educational Attainment positively influence entrepreneurial activity, indicating the significance of necessity-driven entrepreneurship, financial support, and human capital development. Variance decomposition shows the lasting impact of technical grants on entrepreneurial engagement, while causality analysis confirms long-run unidirectional relationships between technical grants and key variables. The study stresses the need for regulatory reforms to support small-scale entrepreneurs, expanded technical grant programs with mentorship support, and greater investment in entrepreneurial education.
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spelling doaj-art-c4e7977bed2e4e14ac7faa12d83b26302025-08-20T02:58:00ZengElsevierSocial Sciences and Humanities Open2590-29112025-01-011210186110.1016/j.ssaho.2025.101861Entrepreneurial engagement and technical grants funding: Analysis of structurally behavioural determinants and economic factorsAbiola John Asaleye0Thobeka Ncanywa1Faculty of Economic and Financial Sciences, Walter Sisulu University, Private Bag X01, Mthatha, 5117, South Africa; Corresponding author.Directorate of Research and Innovation, Walter Sisulu University, Private Bag X01, Mthatha, 5117, South AfricaEntrepreneurial activity promotes economic growth and social development, particularly in emerging economies such as South Africa. This study investigates the influence of structural-behavioural determinants and economic factors on entrepreneurial engagement, focusing on the role of technical grants using Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares and Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares for long-run analysis, variance decomposition from the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) for dynamic impact assessment, and VECM for causality analysis. The Autoregressive Distributed Lag and Canonical Cointegrating Regression models were employed for robustness checks, and the results remained consistent across these methods. The findings reveal that greater business freedom negatively influences entrepreneurship, suggesting that intensified competition and regulation may hinder small-scale ventures. Conversely, higher start-up costs, Technical Cooperation Grants, and Educational Attainment positively influence entrepreneurial activity, indicating the significance of necessity-driven entrepreneurship, financial support, and human capital development. Variance decomposition shows the lasting impact of technical grants on entrepreneurial engagement, while causality analysis confirms long-run unidirectional relationships between technical grants and key variables. The study stresses the need for regulatory reforms to support small-scale entrepreneurs, expanded technical grant programs with mentorship support, and greater investment in entrepreneurial education.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291125005893L26O38D91O16
spellingShingle Abiola John Asaleye
Thobeka Ncanywa
Entrepreneurial engagement and technical grants funding: Analysis of structurally behavioural determinants and economic factors
Social Sciences and Humanities Open
L26
O38
D91
O16
title Entrepreneurial engagement and technical grants funding: Analysis of structurally behavioural determinants and economic factors
title_full Entrepreneurial engagement and technical grants funding: Analysis of structurally behavioural determinants and economic factors
title_fullStr Entrepreneurial engagement and technical grants funding: Analysis of structurally behavioural determinants and economic factors
title_full_unstemmed Entrepreneurial engagement and technical grants funding: Analysis of structurally behavioural determinants and economic factors
title_short Entrepreneurial engagement and technical grants funding: Analysis of structurally behavioural determinants and economic factors
title_sort entrepreneurial engagement and technical grants funding analysis of structurally behavioural determinants and economic factors
topic L26
O38
D91
O16
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590291125005893
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