Determinants of entrepreneurial intention in the DRC: Empirical evidence from students in Kinshasa

Abstract

This study aims to study the main factors determining the intention of young finalist students of the 1st and 2nd cycle in universities and higher institutes of Kinshasa to enroll in an entrepreneurial activity as a professional path after their university studies. We used the hypothetico-deductive approach. The data for this study come from a survey carried out among finalist 1st and 2nd cycle students in 4 universities and 3 higher institutes in Kinshasa, from September to October 2022, for a sample of 663 students. Binary logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with the entrepreneurial intention of young students in Kinshasa. The results found showed that 75.87% of students under study intend to start a business after their studies. Concerning the determinants of entrepreneurial intention, this study found that students whose academic support is provided by parents and those who are beneficiaries of a scholarship, belonging to the Protestant religion, with linguistic origin (Kongo-central), students who have living parents, the professional category of the parents, the fact of having the idea of ​​a project more or less formalized, the search for information on the product and on the market , the need for accomplishment, the search for autonomy, pressure from family and loved ones, the favorable business climate, the environment of residence (Lukunga), the level of study (finalists of the 2nd cycle), the loss employment of a loved one during the covid-19 period determines the entrepreneurial intention of young students. On the other hand, gender, age, marital status, household size, number of income-generating activities in the household, search for information on the development of the business plan, the disposition to take risk, the presence of colleagues who intend to start a business, the entrepreneurial model in the family, professional experience, associative experience, contact with the organization supporting business creation and Support, having secure sources of financing, possession of an inheritance, access to remittance do not have a significant influence on entrepreneurial intention.

Keywords: Entrepreneurial intention; student; Kinshasa; DRC.

JEL Classification: M13

Paper type: Empirical research