IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijfss/v12y2024i2p30-d1361887.html

Examining the Effects of the Pandemic on Entrepreneurial Activities among Urban Single Mothers: An Exploratory Study

Author

Listed:
  • Abdullah Sallehhuddin Abdullah Salim

    (Faculty of Accountancy and Management, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kajang 43000, Malaysia)

  • Norzarina Md Yatim

    (Faculty of Management, Multimedia University, Cyberjaya 63100, Malaysia)

  • Salmi Md Zahid

    (Faculty of Management, Multimedia University, Cyberjaya 63100, Malaysia)

Abstract

This study was conducted in Malaysia to examine the effectiveness of the microfinance programme for urban single mother entrepreneurs in MSMEs during the COVID-19 pandemic and Movement Control Order (MCO). Implemented as a response to the pandemic, the MCO significantly disrupted businesses, particularly MSMEs. The study aimed to investigate the relationship between empowerment factors (economic, social, digital, and psychological) and governance aspects concerning the effectiveness of microfinance programmes. Using a positivist paradigm and employing quantitative methods through online questionnaire distribution, this research established a framework based on empowerment theory. The findings underscore the importance of economic empowerment, digital empowerment, and governance aspects for microfinance programme success, and provide empirical backing for suitable mitigation strategies for MSME entrepreneurs. The study emphasises the importance of supporting single mother entrepreneurs through various developmental activities, technical and vocational training, and comprehensive financial and non-financial aid initiatives. It stresses the critical role of women, particularly single mothers, in propelling societal and economic advancement, and advocating for their empowerment through targeted interventions. Overall, the findings enhance understanding of the challenges MSMEs face during crises, and offer insights for policymakers and microfinance agencies to strengthen support for single mother entrepreneurs in navigating future challenges and fostering economic resilience and development.

Suggested Citation

  • Abdullah Sallehhuddin Abdullah Salim & Norzarina Md Yatim & Salmi Md Zahid, 2024. "Examining the Effects of the Pandemic on Entrepreneurial Activities among Urban Single Mothers: An Exploratory Study," IJFS, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-18, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijfss:v:12:y:2024:i:2:p:30-:d:1361887
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7072/12/2/30/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7072/12/2/30/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Anthony NTR & Rosliza A. M & Lai P. C, 2019. "The Literature Review of the Governance Frameworks in Health System," Journal of Public Administration and Governance, Macrothink Institute, vol. 9(3), pages 252-260, December.
    2. Bartz, Wiebke & Winkler, Adalbert, 2016. "Flexible or fragile? The growth performance of small and young businesses during the global financial crisis — Evidence from Germany," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 31(2), pages 196-215.
    3. Hanan Nazier & Racha Ramadan, 2018. "What empowers Egyptian women: resources versus social constrains?," Review of Economics and Political Science, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 3(3/4), pages 153-175, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Michael Berlemann & Vera Jahn & Robert Lehmann, 2022. "Is the German Mittelstand more resistant to crises?," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 59(3), pages 1169-1195, October.
    2. Murmann, Martin, 2017. "The Growth and Human Capital Structure of New Firms over the Business Cycle," VfS Annual Conference 2017 (Vienna): Alternative Structures for Money and Banking 168290, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    3. Brixy, Udo & Murmann, Martin, 2016. "The growth and human capital structure of new firms over the business cycle," IAB-Discussion Paper 201642, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany].
    4. Sasan Bakhtiari & Robert Breunig & Lisa Magnani & Jacquelyn Zhang, 2020. "Financial Constraints and Small and Medium Enterprises: A Review," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 96(315), pages 506-523, December.
    5. Boesten, Renée M. & Demerouti, Evangelia & Pekaar, Keri A. & Le Blanc, Pascale M., 2024. "Crafting through financially demanding times: An entrepreneurial perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    6. Fossen, Frank M., 2019. "Entrepreneurship over the Business Cycle in the United States: A Decomposition," IZA Discussion Papers 12499, IZA Network @ LISER.
    7. Deborah de Lange, 2023. "Sustainable Transportation for the Climate: How Do Transportation Firms Engage in Cooperative Public-Private Partnerships?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-21, May.
    8. Grimmer, Louise & Grimmer, Martin & Mortimer, Gary, 2018. "The more things change the more they stay the same: A replicated study of small retail firm resources," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 54-63.
    9. Erhardt, Eva Christine, 2018. "Firm performance after high growth: A comparison of absolute and relative growth measures," MPRA Paper 88077, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    10. Bertoni, Fabio & Martí, Jose & Reverte, Carmelo, 2019. "The impact of government-supported participative loans on the growth of entrepreneurial ventures," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(1), pages 371-384.
    11. Cristiano Bellavitis & Christian Fisch & Rod B. McNaughton, 2022. "COVID-19 and the global venture capital landscape," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 59(3), pages 781-805, October.
    12. Malesela Jim Masenya, 2023. "Empowerment and access to opportunities in South Africa: can gender equality be achieved?," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 12(7), pages 405-412, October.
    13. Hayoung Park & Taewon Kang & Jeong-Dong Lee, 2019. "R&D Dynamics And Firm Growth: The Importance Of R&D Persistency In The Economic Crisis," International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 23(05), pages 1-24, June.
    14. Ren Lu & Qi Lu & Daguo Lv & Yuxiang Huang & Shuping Li & Ze Jian & Torger Reve, 2020. "The Evolution Process Of Entrepreneurship Studies In The 21st Century: Research Insights From Top Business And Economics Journals," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(4), pages 922-951, September.
    15. Sebastiano Cattaruzzo & Agustí Segarra-Blasco & Mercedes Teruel, 2024. "Firm-level contributions to the R&D intensity distribution: evidence and policy implications," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 33(1), pages 45-65, January.
    16. Monika Wieczorek-Kosmala & Joanna Błach & Anna Doś, 2021. "COVID-19 Interruptions and SMEs Heterogeneity: Evidence from Poland," Risks, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-21, September.
    17. Robert Fairlie & Frank M. Fossen & Reid Johnsen & Gentian Droboniku, 2023. "Were small businesses more likely to permanently close in the pandemic?," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 60(4), pages 1613-1629, April.
    18. Saras D. Sarasvathy, 2021. "The Middle Class of Business: Endurance as a Dependent Variable in Entrepreneurship," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 45(5), pages 1054-1082, September.
    19. Cacciolatti, Luca & Rosli, Ainurul & Ruiz-Alba, José L. & Chang, Jane, 2020. "Strategic alliances and firm performance in startups with a social mission," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 106-117.
    20. Liliana Pérez‐Nordtvedt & Kilho Shin & Joohan Lee, 2023. "Effective Firm Alignment with SIGEL Crises: The Temporal Mindsets of Decision Makers," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 60(6), pages 1549-1583, September.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijfss:v:12:y:2024:i:2:p:30-:d:1361887. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.