Open Lecture for Secondary School Students: Why Do Some Places Have More Entrepreneurs Than Others?
We invite high school students to the open lecture — it is a chance to explore, ask questions, and join the discussion!
This lecture is designed for Grade 11 and 12 students who are curious about entrepreneurship and eager to deepen their understanding. Titled "Why Do Some Places Have More Entrepreneurs Than Others?", it will be led by guest speaker Marcus Dejardin, Full Professor of Economics at the University of Namur and UCLouvain, Belgium, with introductory remarks by SSE Riga Professor Arnis Sauka.
The lecture will be conducted in English and is free to attend with registration required.
About the topic
Have you ever wondered…
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Why do some societies celebrate risk-takers while others play it safe?
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Why do some young people dream of launching a startup while others prefer a steady job?
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How do culture, happiness, and social norms shape the decision to become an entrepreneur?
This interactive lecture will explore how culture shapes entrepreneurship in different countries, a particularly relevant question given that some places have more entrepreneurs than others despite having similar economies.
It will examine four cultural factors that influence whether people start businesses. Individuals may feel dissatisfied in their professional or personal lives, or their culture may encourage risk-taking. In some societies, a less materialistic lifestyle can reduce interest in entrepreneurship, though this argument remains controversial. Social norms will also be considered in determining whether starting a business is viewed positively.
The lecture will conclude with the idea that governments may wish to take cultural factors into account when promoting entrepreneurship. Supporting people in learning how to start a business and making risk-taking socially acceptable could have a significant impact.
About the speaker
Marcus Dejardin is a Full Professor of Economics at the University of Namur and UCLouvain, and an Editor of Small Business Economics. He currently heads the Center for Research in Regional Economics and Economic Policy (DeFiPP-CERPE, UNamur) and is an academic member of the Interdisciplinary Research Center on Work, State, and Society (LIDAM-CIRTES, UCLouvain). He also leads the Chair of Excellence for Research and Expertise in Entrepreneurship (CHEREE, UNamur).
Marcus was an assistant professor at Erasmus University Rotterdam and a visiting researcher at the Institute for Development Strategies, SPEA, Indiana University Bloomington, and the Max Planck Institute of Economics, Jena.
He has developed expertise in the economics of entrepreneurship and innovation, regional economics, and public policy analysis. He recently engaged in multidisciplinary research, particularly linking economics to social psychology, with psychologists from the universities of Louvain, Ghent, Rotterdam, and Quebec.
He has published over 50 scientific articles, chapters, and books, and has raised more than 4 million euros in research funding as a promoter or co-promoter.