Gender gap in latent and nascent entrepreneurship: driven by competitiveness

Werner Bönte () and Monika Piegeler

Small Business Economics, 2013, vol. 41, issue 4, 987 pages

Abstract: This study highlights the relevance of gender differences in competitiveness for the gender gap in latent and nascent entrepreneurship. Using data obtained from a recent large-scale survey conducted in 36 countries, we find that individuals who like situations in which they compete with others are more likely to have a preference for being self-employed (latent entrepreneurs) and are also more likely to take steps to start new businesses (nascent entrepreneurs). Moreover, our results suggest that women are less competitively inclined than men in almost all countries in our sample and are also less willing to take risks. The results of a decomposition analysis suggest that gender differences in competitiveness and risk taking contribute significantly to the gender gap in latent and nascent entrepreneurship. Gender differences in competitiveness seem to be relevant, especially for the gender gap in nascent entrepreneurship. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media New York 2013

Keywords: Entrepreneurship; Gender gap; Competitiveness; Risk preference; J16; L26; D03 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (58)

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DOI: 10.1007/s11187-012-9459-3

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