Are entrepreneurial networks shaped by firms’ organisational characteristics? a cross country comparison of the MENA region

Abstract

This paper examines how network attributes are related to firms’ organisational characteristics. The paper utilises Adult Population Survey (APS, 18–64) data for 15 countries. The sample descriptives show that, on the whole, the network environment differs across firm characteristics, but private networks dominate all characteristics. Latent class analysis results show that female entrepreneurs are significantly less likely to fall into any class, relative to class five, when compared to men. While some firm characteristics increase the odds of receiving advice from all sources (transforming type firms), others increase the odds of receiving advice from the private network environment only (business services and starting phase firms)