Learning About the Unknown: How Fast Do Entrepreneurs Adjust Their Beliefs?

Posted: 9 Nov 2009

See all articles by Simon C. Parker

Simon C. Parker

University of Western Ontario; Durham University - Department of Economics and Finance; IZA Institute of Labor Economics

Date Written: 2006

Abstract

The extent to which entrepreneurs adjust theirbeliefs in light of new information instead of relying on past experience ismeasured. Using data from 1999 and 2000 on 700 self-employed Britons collectedby the British Household Panel Survey, a model was created in whichentrepreneurs continually receive valuable but noisy market signals about thetrue but unobserved productivity of their efforts, and then use thisinformation to update their expectations of unobserved productivity. Results show that entrepreneurs do exploit new information, but they givemuch more weight to their previous beliefs when forming expectations. Youngerentrepreneurs were found to respond more sensitively to new information thandid older entrepreneurs. There were no differences found with respect to menversus women entrepreneurs, employers versus nonemployers, and experiencedversus less experienced entrepreneurs. Overall, the rate of exploitation of newinformation was found to be relatively modest. Government provision ofinformation, education, and training can be tailored to be more effective atimproving entrepreneurs' responsiveness than grants or subsidies wouldbe. (LKB)

Keywords: Firm productivity, Adaptability, Adoption of ideas, Information utilization, Learning, Beliefs, Experience

Suggested Citation

Parker, Simon C., Learning About the Unknown: How Fast Do Entrepreneurs Adjust Their Beliefs? (2006). University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's Academy for Entrepreneurial Leadership Historical Research Reference in Entrepreneurship, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1501536

Simon C. Parker (Contact Author)

University of Western Ontario ( email )

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London, Ontario N6A 5B8
Canada

Durham University - Department of Economics and Finance ( email )

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Durham DH1 3HY
United Kingdom
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IZA Institute of Labor Economics

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

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