Work Experience of Private Entrepreneurs in SOEs and Enterprise Innovation Investment: Evidence from China

Private enterprises are important due to their innovation-driven development strategies. There are many private entrepreneurs in China who have experience working in state-owned enterprises (SOEs), and how entrepreneurs' SOE work experience affects enterprise innovation investment has not yet been sufficiently studied. Based on imprinting theory and using data from a survey of private enterprises in China, our study confirms that private entrepreneurs' SOE work experience promotes enterprise innovation investment. Mechanism tests suggest that political connections and policy perceptions are mediating mechanisms. Entrepreneurs' educational background reinforces the mediating roles. This paper enriches the research on imprinting theory and enterprise innovation.