Female-Led Rural Nanoenterprises in Business Research: A Systematic and Bibliometric Review of an Overlooked Entrepreneurial Category

Karen Paola Ramírez-López (), Ma. Sandra Hernández-López (), Gilberto Herrera-Ruiz, Juan Fernando García-Trejo, Magdalena Mendoza-Sánchez, María Isabel Nieto-Ramírez and Juvenal Rodríguez-Reséndiz
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Karen Paola Ramírez-López: Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Querétaro 76010, Mexico
Ma. Sandra Hernández-López: Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Querétaro 76010, Mexico
Gilberto Herrera-Ruiz: Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Querétaro 76010, Mexico
Juan Fernando García-Trejo: Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Querétaro 76010, Mexico
Magdalena Mendoza-Sánchez: Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Querétaro 76010, Mexico
María Isabel Nieto-Ramírez: Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Querétaro 76010, Mexico
Juvenal Rodríguez-Reséndiz: Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Querétaro 76010, Mexico

Administrative Sciences, 2025, vol. 15, issue 8, 1-30

Abstract: This study presents a systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis focused on female-led nanoenterprises in rural contexts, a marginal yet increasingly relevant category within enterprise research. Despite the growing attention to micro and small businesses, nanoenterprises—defined as unipersonal, informal, low-income productive units—remain underexplored and largely excluded from formal economic frameworks. Using the PRISMA 2020 guidelines with the 10-step B-SLR approach, 12 peer-reviewed articles were selected through a targeted search combining terms such as “nanoenterprise”, “women”, and “rural”. The analysis included citation counts, journal impact, country of origin, and thematic focus. Findings indicate conceptual and geographic fragmentation in existing research, with studies concentrated in Latin America, Asia, and Africa, and focused primarily on commerce, personal services, and subsistence agriculture. Gender emerges as a structural axis, as women face compounded barriers in digital access, credit, and formal recognition. The review reveals a lack of theoretical consolidation, comparative studies, and longitudinal research. This work contributes by articulating the distinct nature of nanoenterprises, proposing a research agenda, and highlighting their role in fostering economic inclusion, resilience, and empowerment among marginalized populations. The results call for inclusive public policies and scholarly frameworks that go beyond traditional models of entrepreneurship.

Keywords: nanoenterprise; nanobusiness; informal economy; gender; women entrepreneurship; entrepreneurial intention; rural development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L M M0 M1 M10 M11 M12 M14 M15 M16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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