Dynamics of Women’s Entrepreneurship Development in Iran

Abstract

Entrepreneurship has been considered as an important issue in Iran’s strategic objectives since the country’s Third Economic Development Plan (2000–2004). In pursuit of promoting entrepreneurship, the Faculty of Entrepreneurship was founded at the University of Tehran which has represented Iran in the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) since 2008. Joining GEM has provided Iranian policymakers and academics with a more comprehensive perspective on entrepreneurial activity, and has given them valuable insight into the country’s relative position in terms of entrepreneurship compared to other GEM participants across the world. This chapter mainly follows the GEM framework and uses its data to study different phases of entrepreneurial journey for both women and men. Moreover, the rate of business discontinuance in Iran will be compared to different regions, and the reasons for business discontinuation in the country will be explained. Then, in a gender comparison, the dynamics of women’s entrepreneurial activity and entrepreneurial motivation in the country for the period of 2008–2014 will be examined. To explore the feasibility of internationalization for Iranian entrepreneurs, the performance of Iran in international trade will be studied by using data from the Heritage Foundation (Index of Economic Freedom), the World Bank (Trading Across Borders) and the GEM (International Entrepreneurship). The position of Iranian female entrepreneurs in international commerce will also be explored and examined. At the end of the chapter, the sector distribution of entrepreneurial activity in Iran will be discussed.