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Gender gap in latent and nascent entrepreneurship: driven by competitiveness

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  • Werner Bönte
  • Monika Piegeler

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

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  • Werner Bönte & Monika Piegeler, 2013. "Gender gap in latent and nascent entrepreneurship: driven by competitiveness," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 41(4), pages 961-987, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:sbusec:v:41:y:2013:i:4:p:961-987
    DOI: 10.1007/s11187-012-9459-3
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Entrepreneurship; Gender gap; Competitiveness; Risk preference; J16; L26; D03;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship
    • D03 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Behavioral Microeconomics: Underlying Principles

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