Understanding entrepreneurial propensity: an integrated analysis of cognitive traits and contextual factors in diverse economies

This study investigates how cognitive traits and support mechanisms influence entrepreneurial propensity across diverse economic contexts, with a focus on implications for entrepreneurship education. It examines whether creativity and critical thinking function as broadly relevant predictors of entrepreneurial intent, and how institutional environments moderate their impact through mechanisms such as resource access, incentive structures, and pedagogical exposure. A cross-sectional survey of 304 entrepreneurs from high-income and lower-middle-income countries employed hierarchical regression analysis to test the roles of cognitive traits, demographics, and environmental support (family, peers, and entrepreneurship education) in predicting entrepreneurial propensity. Cognitive traits were consistently significant predictors across contexts. However, support mechanisms varied: entrepreneurship education was more impactful in high-income countries, while family support was more influential in lower-middle-income contexts. Gender and maternal education also had differential effects. These findings underscore the broad but context-dependent role of cognitive traits in entrepreneurship education, highlighting the need for programs that balance shared cognitive goals with institutional adaptability. This study integrates cognitive trait theory with institutional theory, drawing on New Institutional Economics to explain how formal and informal institutions jointly shape entrepreneurial cognition and behavior. It emphasizes the dual importance of internal competencies and external support systems, offering cross-national insights for adapting entrepreneurship education to local institutional realities and promoting more inclusive, contextually responsive approaches to entrepreneurial development.