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Opportunity, necessity, and no one in the middle: A closer look at small, rural, and female‐led entrepreneurship in the United States

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  • Tessa Conroy
  • Sarah A. Low

Abstract

Female entrepreneurs in rural America are rarely studied, despite local economic context likely shaping their (self‐) employment choices. Development literature suggests entrepreneurship is most prevalent at the lowest and highest income levels, creating a U‐shaped relationship between economic development measured with per capita income on the x‐axis and the entrepreneurship rate (startups) on the y‐axis. At the county level in the United States, we find that female‐led startup rates vary with per capita income in the predicted U‐shape. Results provide support for place‐based entrepreneurship policy and highlight challenges women face while trying to contribute to the rural economy.

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  • Tessa Conroy & Sarah A. Low, 2022. "Opportunity, necessity, and no one in the middle: A closer look at small, rural, and female‐led entrepreneurship in the United States," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 44(1), pages 162-196, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:apecpp:v:44:y:2022:i:1:p:162-196
    DOI: 10.1002/aepp.13193
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