The superstar inventors and entrepreneurs: How were they educated?

William J. Baumol; Melissa A. Schilling; Edward N. Wolff

doi:10.1111/j.1530-9134.2009.00227.x

The superstar inventors and entrepreneurs: How were they educated?

William J. Baumol, Melissa A. Schilling, Edward N. Wolff

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Observations, such as the many celebrated inventive entrepreneurs with minimal schooling, lead to the hypothesis that protracted and rigorous education can impede entrepreneurship. Systematic analysis of biographies of noted inventors and entrepreneurs appears not to support the hypothesis. We do find that with time, entrepreneurial and inventor education increases as technology grows more complex. However, we find at the same time that the educational attainment of inventors has grown more rapidly than that of entrepreneurs and the educational gap has tended to widen over time.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	711-728
Number of pages	18
Journal	Journal of Economics and Management Strategy
Volume	18
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1530-9134.2009.00227.x
State	Published - Sep 2009

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Business, Management and Accounting
Economics and Econometrics
Strategy and Management
Management of Technology and Innovation

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10.1111/j.1530-9134.2009.00227.x

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The superstar inventors and entrepreneurs: How were they educated?

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ASJC Scopus subject areas

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