The making of the mature entrepreneur: life course perspective on entrepreneurship in older age in Germany and Poland
Final Report Abstract
Entrepreneurship in later life is becoming increasingly important in size and in socio-political and economic terms, and especially in countries facing huge demographic ageing. However, only few sociological studies explored the biographical pathways and determinants of this “senior” or “mature” entrepreneurship. This research project examined the process of formation of entrepreneurship in later life from a life course perspective. The aim was to determine the extent to which previous professional and personal experiences determine the step into selfemployment. The term “mature entrepreneur”, which is sometimes contested, refers to persons who started their businesses after the age of 45/50 and who had previously been working mostly in relationship of an employee. The project explored the question to what extent individual and institutional conditions influence and shape those entrepreneurial activities in later life. The research showed, as hypothesized, that the entrepreneurial motivation and activities of older people are the result of a dynamic interrelationship between their personal, professional and life biographies on the one hand and the social and structural resonance of institutions on the other. The theoretical framework of life course perspective allowed to observe a dynamic and time-related transitions to entrepreneurship in later life. The perspective of life course used an innovative and fruitful approach and included not only the past life events, but also the outlook and planning into the future. Moreover, the life course concept offers the possibility to investigate central differences between older and younger entrepreneurs in terms of life experience and accumulated resources, and the linking of professional and private biographies. Methodologically, the project followed a qualitative approach. For this purpose, in-depth interviews with mature entrepreneurs and experts in the field entrepreneurship (on the state, non-state and private level) were conducted in two countries: Germany (East and West) and Poland. Both countries represent different political approaches to the promotion of (late) entrepreneurship activities and also illustrate different welfare state models or socio-structural framework conditions. Overall, the project presented a successful and innovative contribution to basic research on mature entrepreneurship in ageing societies as well as to current academic and policy debates on alternative forms of age productivity and “new” models of self-employment. The significance of the project`s findings can be described as highly relevant in the field of sociology of ageing, entrepreneurship research, innovation and ageing research, as well as life course studies.
Publications
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(2018). The Enterprising Self: a Panacea for all or New Fictitious Social Role for Older Adults? The Analysis of European Polices for Senior Entrepreneurship. Population Ageing 11, 43–65
Stypińska, J.
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(2019). Senior entrepreneurship: The unrevealed driver for social innovation. Frontiers in Sociology, Sec. Sociological Theory, 2019, vol 4
Justyna Stypińska, Annette Franke, Janina Myrczik
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(2020). Gründungsaktivitäten in der zweiten Lebenshälfte als hybride Performanz Älterer am Arbeitsmarkt? Ein Vergleich zwischen Deutschland und Polen. In: Frerich Frerichs, Uwe Fachinger (eds.), Selbstständige Erwerbstätigkeit und Erwerbskarrieren in späteren Lebensphasen. Springer, Vechtaer Beiträge zur Gerontologie
Justyna Stypińska, Annette Franke, Janina Myrczik
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(2022). Gender differences in the determinants of mature entrepreneurship? The case of Germany. Front. Sociol., 07 December 2022, Sec. Work, Employment and Organizations, Volume 7
Romeu-Gordo, L., Stypińska, J., Franke, A.
