This study examines how economic, social and institutional embeddedness shape the relationship between entrepreneurial attitudes and intentions in individuals with STEM and non-STEM training. It extends mixed embeddedness theory beyond migrant-focused contexts by examining how educational and demographic backgrounds interact with structural conditions to influence entrepreneurial readiness in diverse US settings.
Hierarchical regression analysis was conducted on survey data from 832 US-based individuals, including 11% foreign-born respondents and 15% identifying as ethnic minorities. The analysis investigates how market access, social networks and institutional contexts interact with professional training and demographic factors to influence entrepreneurial intent.
Results indicate that individuals with STEM backgrounds show stronger entrepreneurial intentions when supported by institutional and normative embeddedness. Non-STEM individuals, particularly those with diverse demographic characteristics, appear to benefit more from social and market access factors. Distinct patterns among migrant and ethnic participants underscore the role of contextual barriers and enablers.
This study extends the mixed embeddedness framework by incorporating educational background as a cognitive lens to explain entrepreneurial variation. Moving beyond its original focus on migrant entrepreneurship, it demonstrates that embeddedness is not uniform but interacts with professional training and demographic diversity in shaping entrepreneurial intent. This approach offers a more inclusive and cognitively informed understanding of how individuals navigate embedded opportunity structures in diverse national contexts.
