Finding Entrepreneurial Opportunities in Times of Crisis: Evidence from Tunisia

Entrepreneurship is a highly complex process influenced by numerous factors. The goal of this paper to identify the combinations fundamental entrepreneurial determinants that drive opportunity recognition (OR) in different economic environments. We focus on two points Tunisia’s recent cycle: before and after 2011 Revolution. Using micro-level survey data, study employs ordered logit analysis basic entrepreneur characteristics may increase likelihood identifying opportunities during these cycle phases. Several key factors, such as training, creativity, social networks, are found be ineffective OR process. Furthermore, education attainment lost its major well-established function throughout profound protracted socioeconomic crisis. Only self-efficacy prior experience have particularly strong effects period downturn. Despite government's efforts incorporate entrepreneurship into university curricula business practices, findings show Tunisia still early phases integration development, with patchy uncoordinated activity. drivers perception quest for described western theories should not applied uniformly less developed economies, which unique political contexts challenges. also noticed revolution’s resulting crisis did deter young entrepreneurs from launching ventures. This finding pique Tunisian government’s interest devising an effective strategy support entrepreneurship, especially light new COVID-19 outbreak’s potential impact already vulnerable economy.