Student: Sutima Detsakulrat | Degree: Master of Arts (Social Innovation and Sustainability) | Graduation Year: 2020 | Role: Co-Advisor with Daniel McFarlane and Neil Gains.
This study examines the values and motivations of social entrepreneurs in Thailand, where previous research has focused mainly on broad institutional factors rather than individual-level drivers. Through quantitative analysis using the Schwartz Value Survey, the research compares the values of social enterprise founders, for-profit business founders, and the general Thai population. Contrary to findings from other countries, Thai social and for-profit entrepreneurs showed similar value patterns, including equally high levels of universalism and benevolence. However, both entrepreneurial groups displayed significantly higher achievement and stimulation values compared to the general population, suggesting that entrepreneurship may provide unique opportunities to express these values. Demographic analysis revealed that married entrepreneurs with children who grew up outside Bangkok tended to embrace more traditional, security-oriented, and collective values, potentially influencing how they approach their ventures and engage with society.