This paper attempts to overcome the methodological challenges in demonstrating the effect of age on the determinants of entrepreneurship by investigating the determinants of entrepreneurship for various age groups. The analysis uses data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) of 2014 for Iran. Results of binary logistic regression show that, there are significant correlations between certain determinants and the level of activity in early-stage entrepreneurship. The results suggest that all four determinants considered in this paper have significant influence on the dependent variable, total early-stage entrepreneurial activity.

Increase in new businesses founded over the years yields positive effects to a country’s economy (Caree and Thurik, 2010; and Koellinger and Thurik, 2012). As a result, many countries are implementing different types of strategies to stimulate entrepreneurship in their economy (European Commission, 2013). Because of this interest in entrepreneurship in policy circles, it seems relevant to investigate the determinants of entrepreneurial activity.

An average entrepreneur in Iran is male and young, with more than 50% belonging to the age group of 25-44 years. Accordingly, more than 50% of entrepreneurs are educated till university level. The results of Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2014 show that in terms of perceived capabilities (whether individuals feel they have the knowledge and skills to startup) and early-stage entrepreneurial1 activity, Iran exceeds the average of its neighbors in the Asian and Oceania region. In Figure 1, we present the levels of Total early-stage Entrepreneurial Activity (TEA) and Nascent Entrepreneurship Rate for Iran participating in the GEM 2014 research.

Entrepreneurship Development Journal, Different Age Groups, Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurial Activity (TEA), Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), Literature Review, Hypotheses Development, Evidences for Iran.