IBS Lunchtime Research Seminar - Gender equality increases the representation of women in employer entrepreneurship and reduces it in solo self-employment: A cross-country study

You are cordially invited to attend an International Business and Strategy Departmental Research Meeting, during which there will be a presentation by Johannes Kleinhempel, Warwick Business School. A reminder that attendance for IBS (full time, research oriented) staff and full-time students is compulsory, and where possible, must be in person. Individuals unable to attend in person, due to legitimate reasons will be provided a Teams link on request. Non-IBS staff are welcome to attend. If you have not received the email invite please email Angie Clark

Please join us in Room 108, Henley Business School.

Please make sure you let me know in advance if you intend to attend in person so that the correct amount of catering is booked.

Date: Wednesday 25th February 2026, Edith Morley Room G25

Time: 13.00 - 14.30

Abstract:

The gender gap in entrepreneurship varies substantially across countries, yet empirical findings on how institutional gender equality affects this gap remain conflicting. We argue that gender equality operates through two opposing mechanisms with divergent effects across different types of entrepreneurship. First, gender equality reduces barriers to accessing resources and networks, increasing women’s representation in employer entrepreneurship. Second, gender equality expands wage employment opportunities, reducing the (over)representation of women in solo self-employment out of lack of alternatives. Using data from 77 countries, we find that gender equality increases women’s representation in employer entrepreneurship while decreasing it in solo self-employment. Disaggregating institutional gender equality, we further find that informal institutional de facto gender equality –gendered practices regarding unpaid domestic and care work– plays a larger role than formal de jure gender equality. Our study contributes to institutional research on gender and entrepreneurship by identifying the distinct mechanisms through which gender equality shapes entrepreneurial participation and by establishing the primacy of informal de facto over formal de jure institutions. These findings advance entrepreneurship theory and inform policy efforts aimed at reducing gender disparities in business creation.