Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship

We conducted an exploratory multi-case study of female, necessity micro-entrepreneurs in developing contexts to partially validate an existing theoretical model and identify relevant omitted variables. Using a sample of eight female, necessity entrepreneurs in Tijuana (Mexico), we were able to challenge the established pull-push binary framework in entrepreneurship as well as the linear entrepreneurial process. Our analysis suggests that motivations, family embeddedness and gender identity are critical factors impacting the female micro-venture creation process in developing contexts. We summarize our theoretical findings in a new process model that accounts for macro, meso and micro factors, offering contributions to the scholarship on female entrepreneurship in developing contexts.

This paper studies the evolution of some higher education and R&D variables in Mexico during 2007–2017 and determines their effects on different entrepreneurial outcomes. It is shown that these variables affect the entrepreneurial outcomes heterogeneously depending on the type of venture. They do not explain the overall entrepreneurship; however, they do explain higher education and knowledge-based entrepreneurship. The research also suggests that, despite the general improvement of the performance indicators in the higher education institutions and the R&D variables enabled by the public policy, its scope is still limited, distributed unequally across states and ambiguous in innovative outcomes. Some insights for policy applicable to developing countries are provided.

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.

We examine how economic dynamism, along with the cultural orientation of individualism vs. collectivism shape the multilayered relationships between perceptual variables—self efficacy, attitude, social capital and perceived opportunities—and entrepreneurial intentions (EI). For the first time, we introduce economic dynamism as a national context variable for EI. We also join a group of entrepreneurship scholars to apply a multilayered approach to account for the multiple interactions among individual and contextual variables. We test our hypotheses using country-level aggregates of GEM data. For comparison purposes, we consider four nations differentiated along the dimensions of economic dynamism and the cultural trait of individualism vs. collectivism, namely, China, Italy, Japan and the United States. The results show that self-efficacy predicts EI across all four nations; the interactive effects between perceived opportunities and attitude and between social capital and attitude are contingent upon national contexts in terms of economic dynamism and individualism vs. collectivism. Although economic development long has been a popular contextual variable in the study of EI, there remains a lack of empirical support. One reason is economic development assumes a stable state, when in fact changes in an economy may be more critical in impacting entrepreneurial intentions. In the current study, we replace economic development with that of economic dynamism. Future research needs to refine the construct and develop a measure of it.

By exploring the resilience skills of African-American, Hispanic and female entrepreneurs, this study examines entrepreneurs who face great obstacles, but still start more businesses than their White counterparts (Fairlie and Robb, 2009). The experiences of minorities and women lead to the development of risk and protective factors that result in differences in resilience. Here we present a model of resilience informed by the psychology and educational literatures which illustrates how particular experiences of minorities and women enable them to develop higher levels of resilience. In this model, the adaptive cultures of women and minorities equip them to overcome the adversity which arises from their social stratification as marginalized groups. We then test this model using a nationally representative, stratified random sample of 340 Black, Hispanic and White male and female entrepreneurs. The empirical results from two-way ANOVAs, Kruskal-Wallis H tests and multiple regression analysis indicate that Blacks and Hispanics had higher social resilience than White entrepreneurs, and that women had greater self and social resilience than male entrepreneurs.

Recognizing the heterogeneity of informal microentrepreneurs, this paper assesses the determinants of their willingness to enter the formal sector. Based on human capital theory and social capital theory, we test the hypothesis that firm decision-making regarding formalization is a function of the nature of the informal microentrepreneur. Using data collected from 500 informal microentrepreneurs in Morocco, and employing a logistic regression model, we find that higher education level, motivation by business opportunity, entrepreneurship training, work experience, gender and the importance of social networks have an impact on the desire to formalize. The paper concludes by discussing the theoretical and policy implications.

The ethical landscape of social entrepreneurship firms is at a nascent stage of development. To explore and potentially elevate this issue, this paper presents a conceptual model and accompanying research propositions to enhance the ethical climate surrounding social entrepreneurship. The conceptual model includes three compound constructs—ethical empowering leadership, perceived ethical organizational support and empowered employee ethical voice—augmented with two established constructs, a code of ethics and ethics training. A literature review is provided as supporting information for the conceptual model and associated research propositions. Potential applications and research implications are also presented.