How social entrepreneurs affect performance of social enterprises in Korea: The mediating effect of innovativeness

Schumpeter argued that entrepreneurship brings about creative destruction in capitalist economies. South Korea enacted the Social Enterprise Promotion Act in 2007 to promote corporate social enterprise. However, despite government support, social enterprises in Korea are not successful, especially in social and economic performance, which is defined as the social and economic value that social enterprises should pursue. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 100 social entrepreneurs, and the structural equation model was used as the research method. The results of the analysis are as follows. Openness and innovativeness have a positive direct impact on economic as well as social performance. In addition, openness and innovativeness play a mediating role not only in social performance, but also in economic performance. This paper suggests theoretical and policy implications based on the above analysis.