Perception of formal and informal institutions by entrepreneurs in China, Morocco, and Germany – A cross-cultural pilot study

	Ineffective formal institutions	Effective formal institutions
Compatible goals between actors in formal and informal institutions	Substitutive	Complementary
Conflicting goals between actors in formal and informal institutions	Competing	Accommodating

[i] Source: Helmke and Levitsky [2003] in Estrin and Prevezer [2010: 7].

Table 2

Questionnaire items

Variable	Type	Source	Items	Scale
Formal rules positive perception	Independent	WEF pillar	Average calculation index of the following items: – To what extent do you evaluate the formal institutions (“written rules”) in your country as a chance for the success of your company? – In the context of competing with your most relevant competitors do you think you benefit from formal institutions at the expense of these competitors?	Not at all – Very much (7 point scale)
Formal rules negative perception	Independent	WEF pillar	Average calculation index of the following items: – To what extent do you evaluate formal institutions (“written rules”) as an inhibiting factor for the success of your company? – In the context of competing with your most relevant competitors do you think formal institutions will discriminate you in favour of these competitors?	Not at all – Very much (7 point scale)
Informal rules positive perception	Independent	WEF pillar	Average calculation index of the following items: – To what extent do you evaluate informal institutions (“unwritten rules”) as a chance for the success of your company? – In the context of competing with your most relevant competitors do you think you benefit from informal institutions at the expense of these competitors?	Not at all – Very much (7 point scale)
Informal rules negative perception	Independent	WEF pillar	Average calculation index of the following items: – To what extent do you evaluate informal institutions (“unwritten rules”) as an inhibiting factor for the success of your company? – In the context of competing with your most relevant competitors do you think informal institutions will discriminate you in favor of these competitors?	Not at all – Very much (7 point scale)
Judicial system efficacy perception	Independent	WEF pillar	– In your country, to what extent is the judiciary independent from the influences of members of government, citizens, or firms?	Heavily influenced – Entirely independent (7 point scale)
Corporate governance efficacy perception	Independent	WEF pillar	– In your country, how would you characterize corporate governance (the relationships) by investors and boards of directors?	Management has little accountability to investors and board – Management is highly accountable to investors and boards (7 point scale)
ethics and behavioral firm perception	Independent	WEF pillar	– In your country, how would you rate the corporate ethics of companies (ethical behavior in interactions with public officials, politicians, and other firms)?	Extremely poor among the worst in the world – Excellent among the best in the world (7 point scale)
Property and intellectual rights	Independent	WEF pillar	Average calculation index of the following items: – In your country, how strong is the protection of property rights, including financial assets? – In your country, how strong is the protection of intellectual property, including anti-counterfeiting measures?	Extremely weak – Extremely strong (7 point scale)
Market orientation	Dependent		– Market-based strategies (formal and impersonal, rule-based, more calculative)	Not at all – Very much (7 point scale)
Network orientation	Dependent		– Relationship-based strategies (informal and interpersonal)	Not at all – Very much (7 point scale)
Self-efficacy	Dependent	Jerusalem and Schwarzer [1999]	Average calculation index of the following items: – I can always manage to solve difficult problems if I try hard enough. – If someone opposes me, I can find the means and ways to get what I want. – It is easy for me to stick to my aims and accomplish my goals. – I am confident that I could deal efficiently with unexpected events. – Thanks to my resourcefulness, I know how to handle the unforeseen situation. – I can solve most problems if I invest the necessary effort. – I can remain calm when facing difficulties because I can rely on my coping abilities. – If I am in trouble, I can usually think of a solution. – When I am confronted with a problem, I can usually find several solutions. – I can usually handle whatever comes my way.	Not at all true – Exactly true (4 point scale)