Beyond Entrepreneurship Policy: A Social Policy Perspective on The Cross-Country Analysis of Gender Inequality in Entrepreneurial Activity
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63556/tisej.2026.1835Keywords:
gender gap, entrepreneurship, social politics, GEM, women entrepreneurshipAbstract
Gender disparities in entrepreneurial activity persist globally despite increasing investments by national governments in entrepreneurship education, financial support mechanisms, and targeted programs. This study questions the effectiveness of such institutional interventions in reducing gender gaps in entrepreneurial participation. Using data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2021, which is the latest publicly shared data published on December 2025, the study examines whether national-level entrepreneurial framework conditions explain cross-country variation in the gender gap in early-stage entrepreneurial activity (TEA). In an analysis covering 42 countries, data from the Adult Population Survey (APS) and National Expert Survey (NES) were combined, and the effects of entrepreneurship education, government support programs, access to finance, and cultural norms were tested using OLS regression analysis. The findings indicate that none of the examined entrepreneurial framework conditions significantly explain cross-national variation in gender gaps. These results suggest that existing entrepreneurial ecosystems and supportive institutional environments remain largely “gender-neutral” and are insufficient to transform the structural barriers faced by women. Consequently, the study highlights that for entrepreneurship policies to be effective, they must move beyond solely entrepreneurship-centered approaches and be reconfigured within a broader welfare and social policy context that addresses the foundations of gender inequality.
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