The differences in the impact of entrepreneurship education on entrepreneurial knowledge: a cross-country analysis

Abstract Nowadays, entrepreneurial knowledge is assessed as having a significant role in supporting and promoting entrepreneurs in the process of starting and running businesses. In addition, the issue of effective entrepreneurship orientation, promotion, and support has become one of the significant tasks of education systems in many countries over the years. Therefore, developing the characteristics, capabilities, and knowledge of entrepreneurs is an essential part of the development policy of each country. A country with good education and adequate entrepreneurial knowledge will contribute to improving the knowledge of entrepreneurs. Furthermore, it will help solve the difficulties and risks facing entrepreneurs. This paper will research and analyze the differences in the influence of entrepreneurship education on entrepreneurial knowledge of entrepreneurs. This entrepreneurial knowledge is necessary and significant for each entrepreneur. The countries considered for this study are Eastern European countries, including Poland, Bulgaria, Croatia, Latvia, and the Slovak Republic. The study was carried out based on data collected from the global survey provided by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor ‒ National Expert Survey ‒ Individual-Level Data in 2017. The research results show that there is some difference in the influence of entrepreneurship education on the entrepreneurial knowledge of entrepreneurs. In the case of the five studied countries, the level of education, human development, and national development cannot adequately explain the influence of entrepreneurship education on the entrepreneurial knowledge of entrepreneurs. The reasons are the difference in awareness, operating environment, and the need for entrepreneurs to have entrepreneurial knowledge. The results obtained contribute to promoting research on the influence of entrepreneurship education on entrepreneurial knowledge of entrepreneurs.