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Female entrepreneurship in the digital era

Author

Listed:
  • Elisa Ughetto

    (Politecnico di Torino & BRICK-Collegio Carlo Alberto)

  • Mariacristina Rossi

    (Università di Torino & CeRP-Collegio Carlo Alberto)

  • David Audretsch

    (Indiana University)

  • Erik E. Lehmann

    (University of Augsburg)

Abstract

The literature on female entrepreneurship is blooming and largely points to the challenges that women face in establishing and running a business, with a particular focus on access to information, finance and networks. Surprisingly, little is known on the role played by digital technologies in driving changes in female entrepreneurship. While academic research is starting to analyze the role that digital technologies play in entrepreneurial ecosystems, the gender perspective remains largely unexplored. In this paper, we outline contributions that intend to enlarge and thicken our understanding of whether and how women entrepreneurs leverage new digital technologies in the creation and conduct of new ventures in order to overcome the hurdles they face. We conclude with a promising new line of research to our understanding of whether and to what extent new digital technologies provide an opportunity space in the creation and conduct of new ventures for women.

Suggested Citation

  • Elisa Ughetto & Mariacristina Rossi & David Audretsch & Erik E. Lehmann, 2020. "Female entrepreneurship in the digital era," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 55(2), pages 305-312, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:kap:sbusec:v:55:y:2020:i:2:d:10.1007_s11187-019-00298-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s11187-019-00298-8
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    3. Sheng Fang & Dean Xu & Lixin Colin Xu & Heba Shams, 2023. "Does FDI have a social demonstration effect in developing economies? Evidence based on the presence of women-led local firms," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 54(7), pages 1332-1350, September.
    4. Stefania Basiglio & Paola Vincentiis & Eleonora Isaia & Mariacristina Rossi, 2023. "Women-led Firms and Credit Access. A Gendered Story?," Italian Economic Journal: A Continuation of Rivista Italiana degli Economisti and Giornale degli Economisti, Springer;Società Italiana degli Economisti (Italian Economic Association), vol. 9(1), pages 199-233, March.
    5. Pilková, Anna & Kovačičova, Zuzana, 2021. "Podnikanie na Slovensku v dobe digitalizácie optikou generácií [Doing business in Slovakia in the era of digitalization through the lens of generations]," MPRA Paper 113391, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Yalin Wang & Yaokuang Li & Juan Wu & Li Ling & Dan Long, 2023. "Does digitalization sufficiently empower female entrepreneurs? Evidence from their online gender identities and crowdfunding performance," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 61(1), pages 325-348, June.
    7. Pattanapong Tiwasing, 2021. "Social media business networks and SME performance: A rural–urban comparative analysis," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 52(3), pages 1892-1913, September.
    8. Bojan Moric Milovanovic, 2023. "The Role Of Education In Increasing Market And New Product Development Performance In The Context Of Female Entrepreneurship: The Case Of Croatia," Economic Thought and Practice, Department of Economics and Business, University of Dubrovnik, vol. 32(2), pages 391-408, december.
    9. Kabbara, Diala & Zucchella, Antonella, 2023. "Transnational entrepreneurship. Insights from female entrepreneurs in the modest fashion industry," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 29(5).
    10. Bejjani, Melissa & Göcke, Lutz & Menter, Matthias, 2023. "Digital entrepreneurial ecosystems: A systematic literature review," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).

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