CONCEPTUALIZING THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT INDEX (ESI): A FRAMEWORK FOR ASSESSING ENTREPRENEURIAL POTENTIAL

Abstract

An entrepreneurial spirit drives economic innovation and societal progress, yet its conceptualization and measurement remain underexplored. This paper introduces the Entrepreneurial Spirit Index (ESI) as a formative second-order construct that encapsulates five dimensions: risk propensity, opportunity recognition, innovation attitude, entrepreneurial knowledge, and motivation. Anchored in the Theory of Planned Behavior, the conceptual framework investigates the relationships among ESI, attitude toward entrepreneurship, and entrepreneurial intention, emphasizing the mediating role of attitude. The proposed methodology involves a quantitative survey targeting diverse populations to validate the model and establish the theoretical linkages. By providing a comprehensive model, this paper aims to contribute to entrepreneurship research and inform policy and education strategies to foster entrepreneurial potential.