Abstract
Purpose – Given the importance of high-impact entrepreneurship to economic growth, and the remarkable potential that women entrepreneurs have yet to contribute to the economic activity, in this study we propose a model to explain an entrepreneur’s high-growth expectation based on relevant strategic variables, additionally addressing the identification of possible gender differences in the predictors of an entrepreneur’s expectation for high-growth. Design/methodology/approach – We use data from the 2009 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), working on a sample of 8,641 early-stage entrepreneurs referred to 49 countries. We perform hierarchical binomial logistic regressions, including a segmented analysis to compare the model between women and men entrepreneurs. Findings – Based on our results, we confirm gender as a strong explanatory variable for growth aspirations, with women having lower levels of expectation for the high-growth of their ventures. Moreover, in comparing the determinants of high-growth expectation by gender, we can conclude that the set of significant predictors is not the same for male and female entrepreneurs. These results suggest a moderating effect of gender in shaping the configuration of the factors determining an entrepreneur’s propensity for high-growth. Originality/value – This research contributes to a better understanding of the factors driving high-growth expectation, thus helping to advance knowledge in the area of strategic entrepreneurship, as well as in women’s entrepreneurship literature. As for practical implications, our results point out to the necessity of designing specific policies for men and women, in order to promote high-growth entrepreneurship.
Highlights
Given the important contribution of firm growth to socio-economic development, especially through job creation and tax revenue (Douglas, 2013; Lichtenstein, 2000), interest in firm growth and its determinants arises both from the policy and the academic spheres
After a literature review on firm growth and growth intentions, we identify a group of strategic organizational factors related to firm growth and aspirations for growth, and hypothesize their relationship with high-growth expectation
We find the descriptive results of Autio and Acs (2007) suggesting that high-growth expectation may significantly depend on gender, with women entrepreneurs generally pointing at lower growth ambitions than men
Summary
Given the important contribution of firm growth to socio-economic development, especially through job creation and tax revenue (Douglas, 2013; Lichtenstein, 2000), interest in firm growth and its determinants arises both from the policy and the academic spheres. Given that every high-impact firm begins as a startup (Davis & Shaver, 2012), the study of highgrowth expectations in new ventures is relevant to understanding the phenomenon of high-growth entrepreneurship. As economic growth potential in most industrialized countries is gendered (Arenius & Kovalainen, 2006), the analysis of high-growth entrepreneurship from a gender perspective is necessary and relevant, as more women entrepreneurs pursuing growth will contribute more to job creation and economic development. Research on women’s growth attitudes suggests that many women deliberately choose not to grow their firms, but rather to keep them small (Geoffee & Scase, 1983), showing conservative growth expectations (Chaganti, 1986; Cliff, 1998) and lower compared to men (Rosa, Carter, & Hamilton, 1996). To our best knowledge, research on high-growth expectation entrepreneurship from a gender perspective is scarce (e.g., Davis & Shaver, 2012; Estrin & Mickievicz, 2011)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
