Gender Differences in Business Performance: Evidence from the Characteristics of Business Owners Survey

Robert Fairlie and Alicia Robb

Working Papers from U.S. Census Bureau, Center for Economic Studies

Abstract: Using confidential microdata from the U.S. Census Bureau, we investigate the performance of female-owned businesses making comparisons to male-owned businesses. Using regression estimates and a decomposition technique, we explore the role that human capital, especially through prior work experience, and financial capital play in contributing to why female-owned businesses have lower survival rates, profits, employment and sales. We find that female-owned businesses are less successful than male-owned businesses because they have less startup capital, and business human capital acquired through prior work experience in a similar business and prior work experience in family business. We also find some evidence that femaleowned businesses work fewer hours and may have different preferences for the goals of their business.

Keywords: Female entrepreneurship; business outcomes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J15 L26 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 51 pages
Date: 2008-12
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www2.census.gov/ces/wp/2008/CES-WP-08-39.pdf First version, 2008 (application/pdf)

Related works:
Journal Article: Gender differences in business performance: evidence from the Characteristics of Business Owners survey (2009)
Working Paper: Gender Differences in Business Performance: Evidence from the Characteristics of Business Owners Survey (2009)
Working Paper: Gender Differences in Business Performance: Evidence from the Characteristics of Business Owners Survey (2008)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:cen:wpaper:08-39

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