The factors that influence the development of entrepreneurship education : Based on the case of China

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to determine the factors that influence the development of entrepreneurship education and attempt to establish a theoretical framework for the development of entrepreneurship education. Design/methodology/approach By using vertical and horizontal data on entrepreneurship education in China, the authors demonstrate the influence of multiple factors. Relevant statistical methods include variance and regression analyses. Findings The factors that influence the development of entrepreneurship education are divided into supply and demand categories. Data show that the increasing number of policies and the expansion of business schools are positively correlated with the development of entrepreneurship education, whereas the advancement of academia and the lowering of employment pressure are negative indicators. Research limitations/implications The authors’ measurement of entrepreneurship education lacks accuracy because of scarcity of data. Not all factors that affect the development of entrepreneurship education have been considered, and certain factors with significant influence may have been missed. Practical implications This study is expected to help countries and regions gain insights into their policies for the development of entrepreneurship education and propel the development of entrepreneurship education by certain means. Business schools can select targeted educational programs to help drive national economic development and transition. Originality/value This study proposes a theoretical framework regarding the factors that influence the development of entrepreneurship education and establishes three models. The framework provides theoretical insights into the relationship between the development of entrepreneurship education and its dependent external environment. Furthermore, the authors argue that the existing research overestimates the role of policy when investigating the development of entrepreneurship education, which also contributes to the existing literature on public goods and development economics.