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Does gender make a difference in the performance of a small business enterprise? Evidence from a household survey data from Ghana

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  • Emmanuel Adu Boahen

    (University of Energy & Natural Resources)

  • Paul Adjei Kwakwa

    (University of Energy & Natural Resources)

  • Justice Boateng Dankwah

    (University of Energy & Natural Resources)

Abstract

Improving the performance of women-owned businesses promises to be an effective means of empowering women toward the realization of sustainable development goal five (5). While studies abound on the subject of gender and development, little scholarly attention has been paid to the gender performance gap in entrepreneurship. We analyse the gender performance gap in entrepreneurship using data from the Ghana Socioeconomic Panel Survey. Regression results revealed a performance disparity between male-owned and female-owned enterprises. Employing the Oaxaca–Blinder decomposition analysis, the performance disparity was found to be explained by observable and non-observable characteristics with the former accounting for 49–66% of the difference in gender performance in business. Among many things, we conclude that policies aimed at empowering women such as education, access to credit, and business support systems could reduce the gender performance gap in entrepreneurships.

Suggested Citation

  • Emmanuel Adu Boahen & Paul Adjei Kwakwa & Justice Boateng Dankwah, 2022. "Does gender make a difference in the performance of a small business enterprise? Evidence from a household survey data from Ghana," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 2(9), pages 1-26, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:snbeco:v:2:y:2022:i:9:d:10.1007_s43546-022-00322-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s43546-022-00322-2
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