Title: Female entrepreneurs in the Indian informal service sector: a study based on Leibenstein's approach

Authors: Atanu Sengupta; Soumyendra Kishore Datta; Susanta Mondal

Addresses: Department of Economics, Burdwan University, Quarter no E3, Tarabag Complex, Burdwan, West Bengal, India ' Department of Economics, Burdwan University, Quarter no E3, Tarabag Complex, Burdwan, West Bengal, India ' Department of Economics, Bolpur College, Bolpur, Birbhum, India

Abstract: This study focuses on the performance differences between male and female entrepreneurs in the informal service sector in India. For this the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) unit level data has been used. It captures the pattern of entrepreneurial activity, socio-economic status of entrepreneurs; nature of problem faced by female entrepreneur's vis-à-vis the male entrepreneurship. Performance of male and female entrepreneurs has been analysed in terms of X-efficiency as developed by Leibenstein. In both the traditional sector and modern sector, female entrepreneurs outperform the male entrepreneurs. However, they emerge to be more efficient in the commercial enterprises. Influences of different factors explaining such differences in performance have also been examined.

Keywords: service industry; female entrepreneurs; X-efficiency; women entrepreneurs; India; informal services; informal sector; Leibenstein; gender performance; entrepreneurship; entrepreneurial activity; socio-economic status.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2015.071823

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2015 Vol.26 No.2, pp.171 - 190

Received: 05 Feb 2015
Accepted: 06 Feb 2015
Published online: 19 Sep 2015 *

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