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Gender, formality, and entrepreneurial success

Author

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  • Lars Ivar Oppedal Berge

    (Norwegian School of Economics (NHH))

  • Armando José Garcia Pires

    (Centre for Applied Research at NHH (SNF))

Abstract

In this paper, we address two entrepreneurship puzzles prevailing in developing countries. First, field experiments on business training programs and grants have shown that it is much more difficult to improve business outcomes for female entrepreneurs than for their male counterparts. Second, empirical studies have revealed that it is difficult to increase entrepreneurial performance in the informal sector. We argue that an extended version of the entrepreneurship model in Lucas (Bell Journal of Economics, 9, 508–523, Lucas 1978) can provide insights into these recurrent puzzles. In particular, if female entrepreneurs are time constrained, interventions that only target business ability and credit constraints may not be sufficient to raise the entrepreneurial outcomes of female entrepreneurs. In addition, if informal entrepreneurs face business constraints in terms of both their access to credit and entrepreneurial ability, interventions that target these constraints together can have a potentially greater impact than those that target either in isolation. We support our theoretical predictions using data from a field experiment with microfinance clients, conducted in Tanzania.

Suggested Citation

  • Lars Ivar Oppedal Berge & Armando José Garcia Pires, 2020. "Gender, formality, and entrepreneurial success," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 55(4), pages 881-900, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:kap:sbusec:v:55:y:2020:i:4:d:10.1007_s11187-019-00163-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s11187-019-00163-8
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    3. Umair Baig & Batool Muhammad Hussain & Vida Davidaviciene & Ieva Meidute-Kavaliauskiene, 2021. "Exploring Investment Behavior of Women Entrepreneur: Some Future Directions," IJFS, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-15, April.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Field experiments; Entrepreneurship; Gender; (In)formal sector;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • A13 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Relation of Economics to Social Values
    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship
    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • O16 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Financial Markets; Saving and Capital Investment; Corporate Finance and Governance
    • O17 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Formal and Informal Sectors; Shadow Economy; Institutional Arrangements
    • O55 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Africa

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