According to the results of a representative population survey carried out by “Spinter Research” on behalf of the Lithuanian Free Market Institute, 48% of Lithuanians wish their children pursued a career in entrepreneurship. Yet, the same group associates entrepreneurship with risk, innovation, and hard work.
Reportedly, one in three Lithuanians (36% of the respondents) wants to start their own business. These are mainly young people under 25 with higher education and steady income.
“To most people, one’s own business firstly associates with self-realization and a desire to take their lives into their own hands, which is especially characteristic of young people. Young adults are not afraid of risks or becoming ‘stranded in shallows’. Only those older people that have already gotten their feet wet are willing to start their own business – such people are well educated, have an advanced career, and relatively higher income. They do not romanticize the idea of a private enterprise and understand that their unrealized ideas, accumulated experience, savings, and wide circle of friends and acquaintances is what allows them to undertake entrepreneurship and firmly grasp the rudder of their lives in their own hands”, – comments Ignas Zokas, sociologist.
When asked what do they associate with entrepreneurs, 53% of the respondents mentioned risk, 51% – resourcefulness and innovation, 48% – hard work, and 42% – creativity. In comparison, in 2012, Lithuanians mostly associated entrepreneurs with a certain position in the society and hard work.
“The results demonstrate somewhat of a growth of the populace. People have come to better understand how economics work and what the primary source of economic well-being is. This means that a majority of Lithuanians realize that their own well-being comes not from generosity of the authorities or state benefits but rather from their individual initiative, creativity, and economic activities. This is why it is crucial that the government does not crush this perception and creates the necessary conditions for it to become more popular as well as ensures favorable circumstances for economic activities and autonomy of the people instead”, – says Žilvinas Šilėnas, President of LFMI.
Similarly to the results collected five years ago, Lithuanians consider the creation of jobs to be the main task of entrepreneurs in society (55% of all respondets support this view). A little less – 48% of the respondents – believe that the main purpose of entrepreneurs is to produce goods and services, whereas 42% think that it is to generate profit. One third mentioned paying taxes as one of the main purposes of entrepreneurs.
“Spinter Research”, a market and public opinion research company, carried out the public opinion research on February 17-24, 2017. A total of 1011 respondents aged between 18 to 75 were surveyed. The aim of the study was to find out how Lithuanians view entrepreneurs.
