This article presents a novel insight into the extent to which social capital, social innovation, and women entrepreneurial activities contribute to rural poverty alleviation. Applying the structural equation modeling (SEM) technique through SmartPLS software version 3.0, data from a total sample of 333 women entrepreneurs in the Agribusiness sector from the Sekyere South District in Ghana were empirically analyzed. The findings from the study highlight the transformative potential of rural women entrepreneurs who utilize social capital from both formal and informal social networks toward rural poverty alleviation. Thus, study results revealed that women entrepreneurship growth performance is positively and significantly associated with rural poverty alleviation. Furthermore, the impacts of social innovation and relational social capital on poverty alleviation showed positive. We recommend that policymakers and development practitioners should empower more women into entrepreneurial activities in the agribusiness sector in rural areas to promote rural poverty alleviation in developing countries.

A rising rate of suicide among the elderly in rural China has been recognized to be triggered by mental health-associated factors. This study uses 3,397 sampled rural elderly adults from China Labor-force Dynamic Survey in 2016 to explore the response mechanism through which non-agricultural employment participation by the elderly adults in rural China can influence their mental health. Utilizing the Multivariate Regression, Instrumental Variable and Propensity Score Matching methods, we find that, the rural elderly adults who participate in local non-agricultural employment significantly improve their mental health. Self-employment tends to have a greater positive contribution to the mental health of the elderly population than waged employment. Further, work income, need for belongingness and respect, and human capital development significantly mediates the influence of participation in local non-agricultural employment on the mental health of the elderly adults. Finally, we put forward relevant policy suggestions to improving the mental health of the elderly in the countryside.

In recent times, there has been an increasing push to develop social entrepreneurship as a strategy for poverty alleviation, rural development and economic growth in most developing countries. This has accounted for several policies to encourage more individuals and organizations to venture into social entrepreneurship yet less is known about the intriguing factors that account for the intentions of especially overseas students from developing countries to venture into social entrepreneurship. Hence, this study applied the Structural Equation Model with Smart PLS software to examine some key determinants of social entrepreneurship intentions from the perspectives of overseas students from developing countries currently studying in China. A total sample of 280 overseas students from the developing countries currently studying at the Jiangsu University in China was randomly selected for the study. The results revealed that Psychological capital, Empathy, moral judgment, knowledge, and social support have significant impacts on social entrepreneurship intentions. Importantly, Psychological capital partially mediates the impact of empathy, moral judgment, knowledge and social support on social entrepreneurship intentions. The study recommends that overseas students in China should be exposed to social entrepreneurial skills and social problems as part of their training to be able to develop their intentions and strong behaviors for social value creation and social entrepreneurship. The results have both theoretical and empirical contributions to extending research scholarship in the field.

Purpose: The study employed the behavioural theory of entrepreneurship to assess the relationship between entrepreneurial management practices and the business characteristics of SMEs in Ghana. Design/methodology/approach: A total of 202 SMEs were sampled from the service, industry, and agricultural sectors in Ghana. The data was collected using a structured questionnaire and analysed using Weighted Mean, ANOVA, and Independent t-tests with Minitab 17.0 software. Findings: the study revealed that business characteristics such as business size and sector of operations significantly affect the SMEs’ management decision-making in strategic orientation, resource orientation, management structure, and entrepreneurial culture. However,  Business size and sector of operation are not necessarily significant factors influencing the SMEs’ reward philosophy and growth orientation. Research limitations/implications: This study recognizes the need for providing SMEs with management intervention programs that train the skills of entrepreneurial management to improve their competitiveness at the global level. The study is beneficial to policymakers in Ghana such as the Ministry for Business Development, the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI), and Higher Educational institutions for the development of entrepreneurship programs. Originality/value: The findings of the study contribute to inventive knowledge in entrepreneurial management strategies and in terms of size and business industry. Paper type: a Research Paper

Purpose: Female entrepreneurs play a significant role in the socio-economic development process, particularly through job creation, innovation, leadership, and poverty alleviation in the Philippines yet the forces that drive their entrepreneurial intentions have received the least attention in recent studies. The present study unveils how social capital and family business influence the development of entrepreneurial intention among females using the case of undergraduate university students in the Philippines. Design/methodology/approach: Cross-sectional data were obtained from the total sample of 227 female undergraduates who participated in the study and a multivariate regression technique was employed for the data analysis.    Findings: The findings unveil the significant role of bonding and linking social capital in the development of entrepreneurial intentions among female undergraduate students in the Philippines. The findings further suggest that female students whose families own businesses are more likely to form entrepreneurial intentions and behavior compared to their counterparts. Research limitations/implications: The findings from the study provide a new direction for entrepreneurship education and contribute to the theory and practice of female entrepreneurship. Originality/value: This paper is original Paper type: a Research Paper

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in China have seen massive as well as viable progress in recent years owing to different factors which has progressively contributed to China’s economic development. Frail bonds with external market and technological revolution, and limited SME funding, lack of proactiveness and risk taking is threatening the sustainability of such development and lowering the entrepreneurial orientation (EO) among the populace. It is against this backdrop that this study was conducted to examine level of OE among Chinese firms as well as factors influencing the development of EO spirit among Chinese firms. The study used Statistical Package for Social Scientist (SPSS) and Microsoft Excel to conduct both descriptive and inferential analysis like mean, standard deviation, and graphical representation, t-test, Correlation, Multiple Regression Analysis, R-Square, F-statistics and Variance Inflator Factors (VIF) to determine the determinants of EO of four hundred (400) SMEs Jiangsu Province of China. The finding of the study supported available literature and confirmed innovation, risk-taking and proactiveness to be the main determinants of entrepreneurial orientation. Other factors that affect EO included structural and relational support, availability of relevant resources, informalization of institutions as well as breaking down bureaucracies and extending corporate boundaries. KEYWORDS: Entrepreneurial orientation, firms’ performance, rural Jiangsu Province

IntroductionEntrepreneurs’ attitudes toward risk is one of the most critical factors influencing business growth and economic development. Therefore, addressing the influencing factors and formation mechanisms of entrepreneurs’ risk attitudes has become a crucial research endeavor. In this paper, we examine how contract performance rates affect entrepreneurs’ risk attitudes through the mediating effect of subjective well-being as well as assess the moderating effect of the regional business environment on this relationship.MethodsThe ordered probit regression technique was employed to analyze the data obtained from 3,660 sampled respondents from the 2019 China Household Finance Survey. All analysis was performed using Stata 15.0.ResultsThe empirical results show that contract performance rates have a substantial positive indirect effect on entrepreneurs’ degree of risk aversion through improved subjective well-being. The regional business environment plays a negative regulatory role in the relationship between contract performance rates and entrepreneurs’ risk aversion. Furthermore, urban–rural heterogeneity appears to consistently determine the extent of the influence of contract performance rates on entrepreneurs’ risk attitudes.ConclusionTo reduce entrepreneurs’ risk aversion and enhance social and economic activity, the government should improve regional business environments by taking specific measures. Our study contributes to the empirical understanding of entrepreneurs’ investment decisions in the context of urban and rural environments.