A configurational approach to understanding gender differences in entrepreneurial activity: a fuzzy set analysis of 40 countries

Krista B. Lewellyn () and Maureen I. Muller-Kahle ()
Additional contact information
Krista B. Lewellyn: Management & Marketing Dept.
Maureen I. Muller-Kahle: The Pennsylvania State University, York

International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 2016, vol. 12, issue 3, No 7, 765-790

Abstract: Abstract This paper explores entrepreneurial activity for men and women across 40 countries. Building on research grounded in social cognitive and institutional theories, we propose a configurational approach to explore how effects of different causal conditions are interdependent in explaining gender specific entrepreneurial activity. Using fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis, we find that no one causal element is sufficient for promoting entrepreneurial activity. Instead micro-level attributes of entrepreneurial self-efficacy and opportunity recognition in combination with macro-level business environment formal institutions and national culture create configurations of conditions that lead to high levels of entrepreneurial activity amongst men and women. Moreover, the causal factors configure in different ways for male and female entrepreneurs. This study demonstrates the value of using a configurational analytical technique to explore together the micro- and macro- complexities of what drives men and women around the world to engage in entrepreneurial activity.

Keywords: Global entrepreneurship; Gender differences in entrepreneurial activity; Configurational approach; Fuzzy-set analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

Downloads: (external link)
http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11365-015-0366-3 Abstract (text/html)
Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:intemj:v:12:y:2016:i:3:d:10.1007_s11365-015-0366-3

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.springer. ... urship/journal/11365

DOI: 10.1007/s11365-015-0366-3

Access Statistics for this article

International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal is currently edited by Salvador Roig

More articles in International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal from Springer
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().