Narrow Results

It is possible that when looked at from the outside, the Gulf Arab countries give an impression that they are not very supportive to female entrepreneurs. This perception may be pertinent to a certain degree; however, Emirati female entrepreneurs (EFE) in the United Arab Emirates demonstrate that enhancing co-operation and support is possible through increasing interaction and networking with men. Analysis is undertaken of the observations and actions of conveniently selected 17 EFEs. The scoping of the respondents reveal that EFEs who engage with indirect male ties require a 'male contact facilitator' from their family or relatives to do so. These men are facilitated by the entrepreneur to adopt the role of a 'male network partner (MNP) and provide support in overcoming challenges and achieving business objectives. The paper sets new standards of support for Emirati women in business ventures as it attempts to describe Emirati female entrepreneurship in a different language and proposes that co-operation, interaction and networking with men help EFEs access and use key resources, alleviate or remove key challenges and achieve business objectives.

Women’s entrepreneurship has taken its position in the sphere of entrepreneurship research as well as in the business world. Several features and attributes characterize and distinguish women entrepreneurs across countries. This paper aims at identifying and discerning the various factors influencing the entrepreneurial career of Tunisian women entrepreneurs and the impediments they face. For this, a qualitative exploratory study was conducted with a sample of 23 women entrepreneurs in Tunisia. This study shows the existence of several factors spurring the entrepreneurial career of the women entrepreneurs, including personal, social and environmental factors as well as following obstacles.

This paper analyzes the motivations of eight female Afghan entrepreneurs to start up their own business and the problems they encountered during start-up and operations. Income generation was the most important push factor but pull factors including desire for independence and autonomy were also important. However, in contrast to studies in other countries, the desire for achievement was not emphasized. An unexpected finding was the emphasis on the desire to help non-family members by running a business. The main problems included financial problems during start-up and operations, lack of contacts and security during operations. Gender-specific problems included limited market, mobility constraints and negative attitudes and lack of social acceptance for female entrepreneurs. The paper concludes with a discussion of the findings.

Many emerging economies seek multiple and diversified means of economic development, including openness to inward foreign direct investment. However, some scholars and protectionists claim this hosting of economic activity on the part of multinational corporations (MNCs) might in fact be detrimental to economic development. This paper seeks to address these concerns by using panel data from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and South Africa to investigate a mediational relationship among inward foreign direct investment, skilled labor supply and entrepreneurial activity in the emerging economy context. Our results provide empirical evidence of later stage entrepreneurial activity as a spillover effect of inward foreign direct investment and that this indirect effect is fully mediated by the pool of factory workers.

In recent decades, female entrepreneurs have been seen to contribute to the economic development of nations especially in developing countries. Until now the contribution of female entrepreneurs to economic development in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has been relegated to the background or ignored in development circles. Part of the reason is because female entrepreneurs mainly work in the informal economy and are necessity driven and marginalized. The main research question the study poses is 'what is the contribution of female entrepreneurs to socio-economic development in SSA?' This paper seeks to answer this by examining critically the contribution of female entrepreneurs from Ghana as a means to achieve economic development. The study employs a qualitative approach using multiple case study design. To examine female entrepreneurship, a 2014 survey involving face-to-face interviews of 60 female entrepreneurs from Accra in Ghana is analyzed. The key finding is that, although male entrepreneurs contribute significantly more to economic development than their female counterparts, there remains untapped potential for female entrepreneurs becoming key players for achieving economic development. This and other findings of the study have some implications for policy on female entrepreneurship. Therefore, there is a call to harness these potentials through policies that would promote female entrepreneurship on an equal wavelength as their male counterparts. This is the first known study of female entrepreneurship as a catalyst for economic development in Ghana.

We examine the influence of the dimensions of social networks on the growth aspirations of female entrepreneurs. Using multi stage stratified random sampling, 540 women were surveyed in the five geographic regions of Uganda. Drawing on social network theory, point bi-serial correlation and logistic regression analysis were carried out to test our hypotheses. Although we find a relationship between belonging to a social network and growth, we also find that the relationship between the other indicators of social networks, including social support, discussion of business ideas, equality of network members and growth, are not statistically significant. We propose this may be because the challenges that face female entrepreneurs in this context negate the influence of social networks on growth. On the other hand, we posit that the metrics used to measure entrepreneurship related constructs are biased not only against women but even the developing country context.

The need for an income is cited by several studies as a primary motive for both formal and informal business start-up activities found in emerging countries. Conversely, entrepreneurs from developed countries enjoying more favorable economic conditions (such as the United States, Canada, or the European Union) are mainly motivated by intrinsic motives. Given the extant literature, it appeared important to determine which motivators were at play in larger Mexican urban centers, where economic conditions seemed to have become similar to those of Canada and the United States. No significant differences were observed between the motives of female as compared to male entrepreneurs from urban Mexico because a majority went into business primarily for economic reasons rather than for intrinsic motives. Knowing that Mexican entrepreneurs are mostly motivated by economic goals should help local governments in designing policies aimed at fostering and facilitating entrepreneurship.

Much of the literature on gender differences in entrepreneurship focuses on entrepreneurial propensity and access to resources. This study takes a step further to explore gender differences in the type of new ventures pursued. Specifically, we investigate whether there is a gender difference in the pursuit of innovative vs. imitative new ventures. Additionally, we examine whether perceptions of the entrepreneur’s environment influence the pursuit of innovative new ventures for female vs. male entrepreneurs. Utilizing PSED data, we find there is no significant difference between genders in the pursuit of innovative new ventures. However, entrepreneurial munificence (i.e., having friends who have started their own business and perceived support of financial institutions) matters for female-led businesses in their pursuit of innovative new ventures. These findings have major implications for building effective entrepreneurial ecosystems.

The present study assesses the perceptions of female entrepreneurs in Tanzania regarding the access to bank loans and the difficulties experienced in the process of financing their businesses. Focusing on small-scale businesses, face-to-face interviews were conducted with 75 female entrepreneurs from the Dar es Salaam area. Resorting to double-hurdle estimation models, we conclude that: 1) women who perceive higher discrimination and/or inequality in accessing bank loans, but who also recognize that female entrepreneurs often lack relevant business skills, tend to apply more often for bank loans; 2) women running larger business, operating in the tailoring industry, face fewer difficulties; 3) although highly educated female entrepreneurs apply less for bank loans, formal education acts as a shield to the difficulties faced by women when applying to bank loans; 4) more autonomous and money seeking female entrepreneurs are less likely to report difficulties during the bank loan application process.

One hundred fifteen female and 252 male entrepreneurs from Atlantic Canada and Ontario were compared to identify gender similarities and differences in terms of their perceptions of success as well as comparing general success factors present in the literature. Gender comparisons were based on a Success Factors' scale derived from the literature and on objective as well as subjective Performance Indicators. Factor analyses and other statistics revealed a positive relation between subjective and objective performance indicators, as well as a particular importance of government programs geared to entrepreneurs among female respondents. Both genders received considerable spousal support.

This study explores the role of cultural practices on female entrepreneurship with some insights from the Nabdam district of Ghana. The views of twenty (20) female entrepreneurs were gathered through face-to-face in-depth interviews, which were analyzed according to identified themes. The key finding of the study is that, because of cultural influences and norms, entrepreneurship is perceived to be a field for uneducated women as highly educated women seek formal employment than self-employment. Also, the value and respect for traditions was found to be a limiting factor to the growth and expansion of female-owned enterprises. Therefore, this study concludes that the general poor performance of female entrepreneurs in the study area can be attributed to long-held traditional beliefs and practices rather than managerial inability on the part of women. The stereotype threat theory is used to explain the state of female entrepreneurship in the study area. Therefore, there is a call on policy makers to formulate policies that could eliminate the negative impact of culture on female-owned businesses.

Although a large body of literature deals with the concept of globalization, the study of the relationship between globalization and entrepreneurship is an unchartered territory. We look at data from eighteen Latin American and Caribbean countries over a fifteen-year time span. Our findings indicate that de facto economic, social, trade and interpersonal globalization are negatively related to female and male entrepreneurial activities. De facto political globalization is the only category of globalization this study finds to be related positively to entrepreneurial activity (male and female), which implies policymaking may be a viable manner to encourage entrepreneurial activities. Political shifts to encourage females to undertake entrepreneurial activities can be seen across the globe.

This article examines the extent to which institutions and entrepreneurial alertness influence and interact to improve the venture performance of female entrepreneurs. Having established instrument validity and reliability, hypotheses are tested using multiple regression analyses based on survey data from South African female entrepreneurs. Results reveal that it is the normative and cognitive institutional dimensions, rather than the regulatory dimension, which have an effect on venture performance. Several positive interaction results are also noted between entrepreneurial alertness and the different institutional factors in terms of their effect on performance. Development support agencies should encourage more female entrepreneurship by supporting evidence-based programs designed to foster higher levels of entrepreneurial alertness and provide a mix of institutional conditions that directly support female entrepreneurs. By linking an essential individual-level entrepreneurial factor (alertness) with institutions, the study widens the theoretical reach of these factors to the domain of female entrepreneurship in the South African context.

External enablers (EEs) are exogenous, macro-environmental forces that influence the rate, extent and substance of entrepreneurial activity. A steadily increasing body of empirical research has sought to identify, describe and predict the aggregate impact of EEs, yet few studies have assessed whether EEs exert similar or dissimilar effects across societal groups, and none to date have sought to ascertain whether EEs function in a gender-neutral fashion. The issue is important to address because it is common for governments to implement policies designed to leverage or mitigate the influence of EEs. Absent knowledge regarding the differential effects of EEs, policies may be enacted with an aggregate intent, but which may routinely disadvantage female entrepreneurs. To address this concern, we investigate the impact of a prominent EE (internet access) on entrepreneurial activity, employing a longitudinal design, consisting of 61 countries from 2004 to 2013. Our results suggest that increased internet access is, in the aggregate, associated with heightened entrepreneurial activity, but the favorable effect for male entrepreneurs is markedly greater than that for female entrepreneurs. The findings reveal that gender-based disaggregation is critical in assessing the influence of EEs.

In European countries, the gender gap in entrepreneurship is persistently observed because females make up on average 30 percent of entrepreneurs. The aim of the paper is to investigate the impact of gender gaps in education at different levels (youth, higher education, adult learning and STEM education) on the gender gap in entrepreneurship, both in all analyzed European countries and in identified clusters of countries. The research is based on the cluster analysis and regression modelling of yearly panel data for 31 European countries for the period 2013–2018. Generally speaking, to the same extent, the gender gap in entrepreneurship can be explained by the gender gap in educational outcomes at different levels, mostly in early leavers and in STEM education. However, European countries are not monolithic in these aspects, as four clusters of countries are identified. Relationships between the gender gaps strongly depend on the country’s characteristics. In countries with a relatively lower level of female entrepreneurship and their education outcomes, the gender gap in entrepreneurship is affected the most significant in comparison to other clusters, by gender gaps in early leavers, higher education and STEM education. However, in clusters of countries with relatively moderate or high levels of female entrepreneurship and education outcomes, their relationships are rather limited.

Improved access to credit influences socio-economic growth. Accordingly, financial support schemes have been used widely as a development tool to help underserved individuals grow and elevate themselves out of poverty. Uplifting women, who are subject to unfair treatment because of gender biases, have been a major target of these programs. Therefore, the present study examines one such government microcredit scheme, the Mudra Yojana, which supports individuals financially to start an enterprise or expand the existing one by providing collateral-free loans. Further, it encourages female participants by charging lower interest rates. The present study, based on 417 female beneficiaries from the tribal districts of West Bengal, India, investigates how financial support has benefitted women in their socio-economic growth. It evaluates the scheme’s effect based on women’s employability and empowerment level. To analyze the data, the study employs ordered logistic regression, Wilcoxon Sign test, effect size, etc. The results suggest micro-credit through Mudra Yojana encourages female entrepreneurship, raises earnings and employability, and thereby empowers them financially, socially, psychologically and in the political arena. The findings of these studies reinforce the fact women could be “active agents of change” and play an important role in both the family and society.

This study investigates the influence of human resource management (HRM) practices and digital technology use (DTU) on women’s perceived venture growth. Further, it explores the mediating role of perceived venture growth and whether this factor contributes to the improvement of female entrepreneurs’ economic conditions. The analysis also assesses differences between urban and rural areas. Using a sample of 100 female entrepreneurs in Lebanon, the results indicate that HRM practices and DTU exert a positive, significant effect on female entrepreneurs’ perceived venture growth. The latter also has a positive influence on the economic conditions of these women and acts as a mediator in these relationships. The findings differ between urban and rural areas. For female entrepreneurs in urban areas, perceived venture growth is shown to mediate the relationship between DTU and women’s economic conditions while it mediates the relationship between HRM practices and women’s economic conditions for female entrepreneurs in rural areas. The findings emphasize the collectivistic nature of rural female entrepreneurs, underscoring their reliance on strategic people management for business growth. It also advocates for promoting digital literacy among rural female entrepreneurs to help them grow and expand their businesses.

This study explores entrepreneurial success among female entrepreneurs, a topic that is poorly investigated in the global South. After a literature review on the concept of women’s entrepreneurial success and on the institutional, economic socio-cultural and familial context of Moroccan female entrepreneurs, results of a qualitative study involving female entrepreneurs based in urban areas, working across diverse industries, are described. Findings indicate that entrepreneurial success is defined by Moroccan female entrepreneurs through four different viewpoints: (1) entrepreneurial success through a company’s financial standing, (2) self-assessed entrepreneurial achievements, (3) societal recognition of entrepreneurial success and (4) the evaluation of entrepreneurial success based on the benefits provided to others. The definition of entrepreneurial success is explored in line with the evolution of women’s priorities and the evolution of Moroccan society. The findings and implications provide policy makers, practitioners and academics with a better understanding of female entrepreneurship and on how to enhance and support these entrepreneurs to increase economic growth.

Since improvements in a political course during the past years, female entrepreneurship in Sudan has been on the rise. Nevertheless, due to the prevalent culture of patriarchy and discriminatory laws undermining equality of genders, women still face numerous constrains to the generation of human, social and financial capital. While men are considered the main drivers of national economic development, women’s potential to raise economic growth remains barely realised. To conclude, women are not accepted as equal economic actors in Sudan. Recent positive political changes place high hope for the enhancement of women’s position in the economic life of the country.

Women entrepreneurs have become key drivers of entrepreneurial changes, especially in Middle Eastern countries where they have recently unleashed their distinguished power. Bahrain is not an exception. Even though women entrepreneurs in Bahrain struggle with a male-dominated culture, they have been successful in starting their own small businesses. Therefore, it is necessary to explore the context of doing business for women entrepreneurs. Then, this chapter reviews the historical aspects of Bahrain and then explores its entrepreneurial ecosystem. Finally, it provides some directions for the future of entrepreneurship in Bahrain.