Marriage: an institution you cannot disparage? Evidence on the marriage norms of entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurship research increasingly acknowledges marriage as an important resource for long-term commitment to entrepreneurial ventures. At the same time, family scholars emphasize the deinstitutionalization of marriage in many countries, meaning that marriage as formalized and long-term companionship has lost importance. We contend that outdated ideological positions in entrepreneurship studies on marriage potentially obscure the more complex reality of the marriage norms of entrepreneurs. Using representative panel data from Germany, our study demonstrates that there is substantial heterogeneity among marriage norms internalized by entrepreneurs in various contexts. While entrepreneurs, on average, are less likely to internalize companion marriage norms than the general population, family entrepreneurs are significantly more likely to internalize companion marriage norms. We provide new insight into the link between marriage norms and entrepreneurship and open promising new areas of inquiry with regard to social norms and entrepreneurial activity. Entrepreneurs and family entrepreneurs embrace different marriage norms. Entrepreneurs are less inclined to embrace traditional companion marriage norms compared to the general population, while family entrepreneurs tend to be more traditional. Previous research on entrepreneurship suggests that marriage can be beneficial for business development, providing a long-term perspective. However, marriage norms have changed significantly in Western countries and now challenge traditional views. This study examines marriage norms among entrepreneurs using representative panel data from Germany. The results highlight the need to update assumptions about marriage in entrepreneurship research. Scholars should view marriage not as a binary status but as dynamic sets of norms that vary among entrepreneurs and family entrepreneurs. Future entrepreneurial theory should consider social norms at the crossroads of institutional changes, entrepreneurial contexts, and internalized norms.