Women’s Entrepreneurship: A Global Phenomenon

Elizabeth GatewoodWake Forest University

September 2, 2011

Women comprise 1/3 of people engage in entrepreneurial activity!

Factor-Driven Economies

Efficiency-Driven Economies

Innovation-Driven Economies

Early Stage Entrepreneurial Activity (TEA)

Sweden U.S

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Factor-Driven Economies Efficiency-Driven Economies Innovation-Driven Economies

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Male Female

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Opportunity vs. Necessity Motivation SwedenU.S.

Perceptions

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Being female increases the odds of being a new business owner controlling for key factors

Perceptions of start-up skills and opportunities may be more important for women