• ISSN: 2301-3567 (Print), 2972-3981 (Online)
    • Abbreviated Title: J. Econ. Bus. Manag.
    • Frequency: Quarterly
    • DOI: 10.18178/JOEBM
    • Editor-in-Chief: Prof. Eunjin Hwang
    • Executive Editor: Ms. Fiona Chu
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HOME > Archive > 2025 > Volume 13 Number 3 (2025) >
JOEBM 2025 Vol.13(3): 269-281
DOI: 10.18178/joebm.2025.13.3.878

How Does Industrial Structure Upgrade Affect Entrepreneurship?

Liang Yunling*, Yan Xinuo, and Xu Qi
School of Economics and Management, China University of Petroleum, Beijing, China
Email: liangyl@cup.edu.cn (L.Y.L.); 18832232206@163.com (Y.X.N.); xuqi0711@163.com (X.Q.)
*Corresponding author

Manuscript received March 5, 2025; accepted June 22, 2025; published July 29, 2025.

Abstract—Management academics are increasingly recognizing the profound implications of industrial structural shifts, particularly as economies worldwide transition toward technology-intensive and service-oriented sectors. Against the backdrop of rapid globalization and technological advancement, industrial structure upgrading has reshaped labor markets, entrepreneurial opportunities, and risk perceptions. Entrepreneurship, a critical driver of innovation and economic resilience, faces both challenges and opportunities in this evolving landscape. This study aims to empirically analyze the multifaceted relationship between industrial structure upgrading and entrepreneurship, with a focus on identifying mediating mechanisms and heterogeneous effects in developed versus developing contexts. Using cross-sectional data from 141,402 individuals across 43 countries (2020), we employ logistic regression and mediation analysis to investigate the impact of structural shifts on entrepreneurial activity. Key findings reveal that industrial upgrading suppresses entrepreneurial enthusiasm, particularly in developing economies, mediated by reduced market opportunities, increased entry barriers, and labor market polarization. Positive mediators include labor efficiency gains and improved social welfare, though these are often outweighed by negative factors in underdeveloped regions. The study underscores the need for balanced policies that harmonize industrial transformation with entrepreneurial incentives, offering actionable insights for policymakers to foster sustainable economic growth while mitigating unintended disincentives to entrepreneurship.

Keywords—entrepreneurship, industrial structure upgrade, developed countries, developing countries

Cite: Liang Yunling, Yan Xinuo, and Xu Qi, "How Does Industrial Structure Upgrade Affect Entrepreneurship?" Journal of Economics, Business and Management, vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 269-281, 2025.

Copyright © 2025 by the authors. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited (CC BY 4.0).

 

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