Impact of empathy, perceived social impact, social worth and social network on the social entrepreneurial intention in socio-economic projects

Purpose This paper aims to address essential questions regarding social entrepreneurial intentions. Do traits such as perceived social impact, social worth and social network influence, social entrepreneurial intentions among the young populous generation of Pakistan? To get a deeper insight, this paper further raises questions regarding the relationship of these predictors and social entrepreneurial intentions with empathy which is considered as a key determinant and a distinguishing trait to become a social entrepreneur. Design/methodology/approach This paper involves a quantitative research design using a partial least square structural equation modeling approach to measure the effects of the structural model. For this, a cross-sectional survey was conducted with a purposive sample of 247 university students from Pakistan. Findings Results showed a positive relationship between antecedents and social entrepreneurial intentions. Overall analysis exhibited social worth as a dominant trait and social network as the least influencing trait to impact social entrepreneurial intentions. Practical implications It will help micro and macro-level policymakers including government officials and NGOs and educators to create awareness and provide support and encouragement to individuals who aim to initiate social enterprise. Originality/value The present study makes significant contributions to the social entrepreneurship literature, as it is one of the first academic studies on social entrepreneurial intentions in Pakistan. This paper enriches the theoretical foundation by assessing the influence of perceived social impact, social worth and social network on social entrepreneurial intentions. Also, the relationship of Empathy with each of these antecedents is examined for the first time in the social entrepreneurial intentions context which is a valuable contribution both theoretically and practically.