Abstract
The purpose of this study is to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge regarding
entrepreneurial intentions among Millennials and Generation Z and to identify the main determinants and emerging
research themes influencing entrepreneurial aspirations. The study investigates four main areas: the theoretical
foundations of entrepreneurial intentions, the entrepreneurial characteristics of Millennials and Generation Z, the role
of key determinants such as entrepreneurship education, entrepreneurial self-efficacy, family support, cultural influences,
and digitalisation, and the emergence of new research themes including digital entrepreneurship and artificial
intelligence. Methodologically, the research adopts a conceptual approach based on a review and synthesis of the existing
literature. In addition, a bibliometric analysis of 37 studies indexed in the Scopus database was conducted using
VOSviewer to identify dominant research themes and emerging trends within the field. The findings indicate that
entrepreneurial intentions are shaped by a complex interaction of educational, psychological, social, cultural, and
technological factors. Entrepreneurship education, entrepreneurial self-efficacy, family support, cultural context, and
digitalisation emerged as the most influential determinants. The bibliometric analysis further revealed the growing
importance of digital entrepreneurship and artificial intelligence as emerging areas of research. The study contributes
to the entrepreneurship literature by integrating fragmented findings into a coherent perspective on entrepreneurial
intentions among younger generations. Its originality lies in the development of the Entrepreneurial Intention Ecosystem
Framework, which combines human capital, psychological capital, social capital, and contextual moderators into a
holistic conceptual model that explains the formation of entrepreneurial intentions among Millennials and Generation Z.
entrepreneurial intentions among Millennials and Generation Z and to identify the main determinants and emerging
research themes influencing entrepreneurial aspirations. The study investigates four main areas: the theoretical
foundations of entrepreneurial intentions, the entrepreneurial characteristics of Millennials and Generation Z, the role
of key determinants such as entrepreneurship education, entrepreneurial self-efficacy, family support, cultural influences,
and digitalisation, and the emergence of new research themes including digital entrepreneurship and artificial
intelligence. Methodologically, the research adopts a conceptual approach based on a review and synthesis of the existing
literature. In addition, a bibliometric analysis of 37 studies indexed in the Scopus database was conducted using
VOSviewer to identify dominant research themes and emerging trends within the field. The findings indicate that
entrepreneurial intentions are shaped by a complex interaction of educational, psychological, social, cultural, and
technological factors. Entrepreneurship education, entrepreneurial self-efficacy, family support, cultural context, and
digitalisation emerged as the most influential determinants. The bibliometric analysis further revealed the growing
importance of digital entrepreneurship and artificial intelligence as emerging areas of research. The study contributes
to the entrepreneurship literature by integrating fragmented findings into a coherent perspective on entrepreneurial
intentions among younger generations. Its originality lies in the development of the Entrepreneurial Intention Ecosystem
Framework, which combines human capital, psychological capital, social capital, and contextual moderators into a
holistic conceptual model that explains the formation of entrepreneurial intentions among Millennials and Generation Z.
Cuvinte cheie
Entrepreneurship
entrepreneurial intentions
Generation Z
Millennials
career aspirations
young entrepreneurs
Istoric articol
Publicat
26.06.2026
Informații autori
Citare recomandată
DIANA ALEXANDRA TIMIS (2026). ENTREPRENEURIAL INTENTIONS AMONG GENERATION Z AND MILLENNIALS: CURRENT STATE OF KNOWLEDGE AND FUTURE RESEARCH DIRECTIONS. Constantin Brâncuși University of Târgu Jiu Economics Series, 1(3), 439–452. https://doi.org/10.65631/jes.3.2026.42
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