Deriving factors affecting Canadian small business sector: Entrepreneurial intentions perspective (early view)

Abstract

The observational study revolves around the attitudes towards entrepreneurship. A survey of 387 Canadian immigrants, predominantly from the South Asian countries, i.e., Pakistan and India, was conducted. The data was then analyzed using SmartPLS 3.2.8. The study reveals that perceived structural support is a weak pointer of entrepreneurial intentions. Instead, personal attributes, i.e., self-efficacy and internal locus of control, contribute to entrepreneurial intentions. The outcomes raise questions about the Canadian government's immigration strategy, which chooses foreigners based on financial potential and not on their own business. The study serves as a guideline for policymakers that if immigrants carrying personal attributes of high self-efficacy provided social support in the immigrant country, they could quickly start a new business.