Bribe or die: gender differences in entrepreneurship in emerging markets

Lan Thanh Nguyen, Hung T. Nguyen and Mia Hang Pham
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Harvey Nguyen ()

Applied Economics, 2021, vol. 53, issue 19, 2170-2191

Abstract: This paper examines the relation between gender differences in entrepreneurship and firm-level bribery, one of the most impactful business obstacles to private sector growth. Using data from a comprehensive survey covering 16,560 enterprises in 32 emerging economies, we find that female-led firms account for 19.2% of all enterprises, which is approximately 4 times lower than the share of male-led firms, and that female entrepreneurs experience a higher level of bribery than their peers. The impact of gender on bribery is more pronounced among firms located in countries that are more corruption-prone and becomes weaker among countries with a higher female graduation ratio at the tertiary level. In addition, female-run firms have a lower likelihood of obtaining a construction permit, securing a government contract, or holding an operating licence. Overall, the results suggest that a bribe-to-survive motive is a possible explanation for the higher level of bribery among female-led firms in emerging markets.

Date: 2021
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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DOI: 10.1080/00036846.2020.1856325

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