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Women Entrepreneurship Promotion in Developing Countries: What explains the gender gap in entrepreneurship and how to close it?

Author

Listed:
  • Saskia Vossenberg

    (Maastricht School of Management, PO Box 1203, 6201 BE Maastricht, The Netherlands)

Abstract

Despite the growing number of women-led business and a significant increase of initiatives, policies and resources designed to promote and develop women’s entrepreneurship, the gender gap in entrepreneurship persist. This paper addresses two questions: Why does the gender gap in entrepreneurship persist? And, what does the literature suggest to us about the best ways to promote women’s entrepreneurship? Based on a feminist perspective this paper argues that current women entrepreneurship promotion policies undoubtedly benefit individual women but when the gender bias in the context in which entrepreneurship is embedded, is left intact, efforts may remain in vain and without any significant macroeconomic or social impact.

Suggested Citation

  • Saskia Vossenberg, 2013. "Women Entrepreneurship Promotion in Developing Countries: What explains the gender gap in entrepreneurship and how to close it?," Working Papers 2013/08, Maastricht School of Management.
  • Handle: RePEc:msm:wpaper:2013/08
    as

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    File URL: http://web2.msm.nl/RePEc/msm/wpaper/MSM-WP2013-08.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Siri Terjesen & José Ernesto Amorós, 2010. "Female Entrepreneurship in Latin America and the Caribbean: Characteristics, Drivers and Relationship to Economic Development," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 22(3), pages 313-330, July.
    2. Nada Kobeissi, 2010. "Gender factors and female entrepreneurship: International evidence and policy implications," Journal of International Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 8(1), pages 1-35, March.
    3. Marina Della-Giusta & Christine Phillips, 2006. "Women entrepreneurs in the Gambia: challenges and opportunities," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 18(8), pages 1051-1064.
    4. Minniti, Maria, 2009. "Gender Issues in Entrepreneurship," Foundations and Trends(R) in Entrepreneurship, now publishers, vol. 5(7–8), pages 497-621, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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