Institutional environment and entrepreneurial intention of academics in China

Using the entrepreneurial event model, the theory of planned behavior, and institutional theory, we investigated the influence of 4 dimensions of the Chinese institutional environment on academics’ entrepreneurial intention, and examined the moderating role of entrepreneurial self-efficacy in this relationship. Results of our analysis of 303 university scientists across 5 representative provinces in China show that a regulatory and a cognitive environment both had a positive effect on entrepreneurial intention, whereas the effects of a normative and a conducive environment were nonsignificant. In addition, entrepreneurial self-efficacy played a positive role in moderating the influence of regulatory and cognitive environments on entrepreneurial intention. Therefore, a systematic reconstruction of Chinese institutional policy and culture, as well as institutional reform, are needed to enhance Chinese academics’ entrepreneurial intention.