The influence of gender egalitarianism and economic development indicator on the level of women's early entrepreneurship activities

Abstract

Women entrepreneurs are found to have a significant contribution into economic growth of a country. Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) and also OECD reports on women's entrepreneurial activities in the initial phase have shown a rapid growth in various countries, such as in ASEAN region. The growth varies across countries, and a cultural dimension shows an influence phenomenon, e.g. gender egalitarianism. Observing this phenomenon, then it is hypothesized that gender egalitarianism affect women's entrepreneurship activity in the initial phase. Research question is raised on how the gender egalitarianism affect the women’s entrepreneurial activities in the initial phase with a different economic levels among countries. This study uses a country level data, sourced from the GEM and World Bank data for 2015 - 2017, and the GLOBE survey phase 2 data. Data analysis uses hierarchical multiple regression model, with percentage of total early women’s entrepreneurial activities as dependent variable, and gender egalitarianism as independent variable, and GDP as moderating variable. This study concluded that there is an influence from the interaction of gender egalitarianism and GDP per capita on total early women's entrepreneurial activity level (TEA women). This study guides a policy maker in designing a capacity building program for strengthening women’s entrepreneurial activity should follow the culture in their respective countries, e.g. gender egalitarianism.