Does social network always promote entrepreneurial intentions? An empirical study in China.

In order to verify how social network affects entrepreneurial intentions, a theoretical model is developed between network, entrepreneurial desirability, entrepreneurial feasibility and entrepreneurial intentions. As for empirical studies, a structural equation model is developed and several hypotheses are tested based on Chinese College-graduate Village Officials' samples. Results showed that three social network dimensions, which are network size, network heterogeneity and properties of top node, affect entrepreneurial intentions significantly. Specifically, entrepreneurial intention is negatively correlated with properties of top node and the size of the social network; significant positive correlation is found between heterogeneity of social network and entrepreneurial intentions. Besides, entrepreneurial desirability and entrepreneurial feasibility are two mediators between network heterogeneity and entrepreneurial intension. This paper has also found that social networks sometimes may become an obstacle for College-graduate Village Official to start a business. The theoretical and practical implications for policymaker of the study's findings are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]