Abstract:

The main purpose of this paper was to explore perceived entrepreneurial self-efficacy and desirability of self-employment on a sample of Croatian young adults. Specific research aims were to determine the factors that comprise entrepreneurial self-efficacy, to explore the relation between self-efficacy and desirability of self-employment and to determine if self-efficacy and desirability of self-employment are influenced by expressed optimism/pessimism about economic future of the country. Survey was conducted on a sample of 201 visitors of an entrepreneurship event organized at Faculty of Economics, University of Split, Croatia. The questionnaire used in this study consisted of three parts - Perceived desirability of self-employment scale (PDSE), Perceived entrepreneurial self-efficacy scale (PESE) and socio-demographic questions (sex, age, education level). Factor analysis revealed three distinct factors of entrepreneurial self-efficacy: coping with risk and self-belief, management skills and opportunity recognition and innovation. Respondents expressed high levels of entrepreneurial self-efficacy and desirability of self-employment. The assumption that respondents with positive attitudes toward Croatian economic future will show higher desirability of self-employment and entrepreneurial self-efficacy was confirmed. Practical implications of these findings are discussed.