Article: Female entrepreneurship in China: opportunity- or necessity-based? Journal: International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business (IJESB) 2012 Vol.15 No.4 pp.411 - 434 Abstract: The paper investigates the inequalities within entrepreneurship which are hindering Chinese socio-economic development. We take an institutionalist and gender-based approach. We establish the relationship between entrepreneurship and economic development and create a historical framework from which we examine contemporary female entrepreneurship. We find that females in China often engage in entrepreneurship in the informal sector, where average income is lower. Females are more likely than men to engage in necessity-based entrepreneurship rather than opportunity-based entrepreneurship in China. Therefore, the overall increase in female entrepreneurship in China in recent years does not necessarily imply improvement in living standards for those women. The paper demonstrates that different classes of entrepreneurs face different barriers, and that females need targeted assistance so that the gender gap in entrepreneurship can be reduced. Government should take responsibility for deconstructing social and cultural barriers to women through policy initiatives, as well as promoting women's entrepreneurial training and capital formation. There is also a key role for the non-governmental sector and international organisations to play in educating government, businesses, and workers, as well as pressuring and/or coordinating them where needed. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Female entrepreneurship in China: opportunity- or necessity-based?

Authors: Lucas Hernandez; Nicholas Nunn; Tonia Warnecke

Addresses: Rollins College, Winter Park, FL, 32789, USA. ' Rollins College, Winter Park, FL, 32789, USA. ' Rollins College, Winter Park, FL, 32789, USA

Abstract: The paper investigates the inequalities within entrepreneurship which are hindering Chinese socio-economic development. We take an institutionalist and gender-based approach. We establish the relationship between entrepreneurship and economic development and create a historical framework from which we examine contemporary female entrepreneurship. We find that females in China often engage in entrepreneurship in the informal sector, where average income is lower. Females are more likely than men to engage in necessity-based entrepreneurship rather than opportunity-based entrepreneurship in China. Therefore, the overall increase in female entrepreneurship in China in recent years does not necessarily imply improvement in living standards for those women. The paper demonstrates that different classes of entrepreneurs face different barriers, and that females need targeted assistance so that the gender gap in entrepreneurship can be reduced. Government should take responsibility for deconstructing social and cultural barriers to women through policy initiatives, as well as promoting women's entrepreneurial training and capital formation. There is also a key role for the non-governmental sector and international organisations to play in educating government, businesses, and workers, as well as pressuring and/or coordinating them where needed.

Keywords: China; gender inequalities; female entrepreneurship; informal labour; economic transition; small business; policy initiatives; women entrepreneurs; gender gap; social barriers; cultural barriers; entrepreneurial training; capital formation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2012.046473

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2012 Vol.15 No.4, pp.411 - 434

Published online: 14 Aug 2014 *

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Title: Female entrepreneurship in China: opportunity- or necessity-based?

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