The stigmatization of bankrupt entrepreneurs in Dutch newspapers

Abstract

We examine to what extent bankrupt entrepreneurs are stigmatized in the mass media. Based on a decade of newspaper articles, we show that while overall the level of stigmatization is lower than expected based on popular belief, stigmatization increases in the years with many bankruptcies, and in the months following a prominent bankruptcy. These differences are caused by the distinctions made by journalists between entrepreneurs in charge of large and small firms respectively as villains responsible for the bankruptcy and its consequences, or as hard-working victims of the system. Findings are explained in terms of experienced peril and cultural factors.

Nous examinons dans quelle mesure les entrepreneurs qui font faillite sont stigmatisés par les mass médias. En nous appuyant sur des articles de presse publiés pendant une décennie, nous montrons que si d'une manière générale le niveau de stigmatisation basé sur des croyances populaires est plus faible que prévu, il augmente au cours des années où beaucoup de faillites sont déclarées et dans les mois qui suivent une faillite majeure. Ces différences émergent de la distinction faite par les journalistes entre les dirigeants de grandes et de petites entreprises, respectivement décrits comme les méchants responsables des faillites et de leurs conséquences, ou comme des durs travailleurs victimes du systéme. Nos résultats sont expliqués relativement à l'expérience du danger et aux facteurs culturels.

Keywords:

• bankruptcy
• entrepreneurship
• media
• stigmatization
• culture
• exposure

Mots-clés:

• faillite
• entreprenariat
• médias
• stigmatisation
• culture
• exposition

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ingrid Wakkee

Ingrid Wakkee is associate professor of entrepreneurship at the VU University in Amsterdam. She researches entrepreneurship typically using network, stakeholder or institutional perspectives and is particularly interested in processes of bankruptcy and recovery.

Frank Dorrestein

Frank Dorrestein studied Policy, Communication and Organization at the VU University in Amsterdam and wrote his master's thesis on stigmatization of bankrupt entrepreneurs in the mass media. He is currently working as an interim communication advisor to department of economic affairs at the municipality of Amsterdam.

Paula Englis

Paula Englis is professor and chair of entrepreneurship and management at Berry College and affiliated with NIKOS at the University of Twente. Her research focuses on knowledge intensive entrepreneurship, management and knowledge management. Also she is involved in working with (former) students to help them start and grow their business.