Institutional Actors and Entrepreneurial Choices: New Ventures in the Biodiesel Fuel Industry

Posted: 13 Aug 2010

See all articles by Shon R. Hiatt

Shon R. Hiatt

University of Southern California - Marshall School of Business

Date Written: August 13, 2010

Abstract

Entrepreneurs face a host of potential choices in creating new firms, yet little is known about how multiple institutional actors promoting different practices and technologies can affect entrepreneurial decision-making, especially at the beginning of new sectors and technological lifecycles. Using historical data and quantitative analyses of U.S. biodiesel producer foundings, technological innovation and diversity, I highlight the impact of competing institutional actors (agriculture trade associations) on entrepreneurial decision-making and activity. I posit that greater competition or heterogeneity of trade associations promoting various technologies will result in higher rates of biodiesel foundings as well as technological variation and innovation. I also analyze the moderating influences of competing institutional actors (Sierra Club/environmental lobby actors) and entrepreneurial network relations (captured by de novo and de alio entrants) on trade association effectiveness. In a final analysis, I explore the moderating influence of institutional actor size on actor heterogeneity. The dissertation contributes to the growing nexus of institutions and entrepreneurship research as well as to the research on technology entrepreneurship.

Keywords: Entrepreneurship, Renewable Energy, Biodiesel, Trade Association

Suggested Citation

Hiatt, Shon R., Institutional Actors and Entrepreneurial Choices: New Ventures in the Biodiesel Fuel Industry (August 13, 2010). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1658425 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1658425

Shon R. Hiatt (Contact Author)

University of Southern California - Marshall School of Business ( email )

701 Exposition Blvd
Los Angeles, CA California 90089
United States

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