Reducing financial uncertainty

: impact on entrepreneurial intentions: an empirical study on the influence of financial security on the prosecution of entrepreneurial activities for generation z

Abstract

Entrepreneurship has the potential to stimulate an economy by introducing new technologies, products, and services that the market and legislators have not yet acknowledged. Due to the demographic transition, Generation Z is expected to catalyze new businesses, as they have grown up without constant digital access and have seen technology evolve rapidly. Their versatility enables them to combine traditional business strategies with innovative initiatives, improving the economy. Hence, the government must establish more suitable frameworks allowing this generation to achieve their business aspirations. The thesis examines the determinants of Generation Z’s entrepreneurial intentions (EIs) while considering the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). The core structure of TPB, consisting of the variables Attitude towards Entrepreneurship (ATE), Subjective Norm (SN), and Perceived Behavioral Control (PBC), serves as the foundation for elucidating EI. To deepen the comprehension of EI, the baseline model is extended by incorporating parental socioeconomic status (PSES), universal basic income (UBI), and concentrated universal basic income (CUBI), which is introduced due to qualitative research. The quantitative research results, backed by exploratory research, reveal that the fundamental model of TPB has the most significant impact on Generation Z’s EI. The external variables PSES and CUBI exhibit substantial influences compared to UBI, as they are more tailored to this generation’s requirements. The thesis underscores the relevance of targeted government measures to establish equal opportunities in entrepreneurship and foster further innovation.

Date of Award	18 Oct 2024
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Duarte João Ferreira (Supervisor)