Internet Use and Entrepreneurship: Narrowing the Gender Gap

Abstract

The study develops and validates a research model examining the impact of the use of internet on women’s entrepreneurship. While women are in disadvantaged positions in entrepreneurial arena, we suggest the use of internet could reduce such disadvantages. In addition, we propose two possible mechanisms, providing resources and changing social values, of internet use on women’s entrepreneurship. The empirical analyses based on data from China Family Panel Studies (CFPS) support the positive effect of internet use on facilitating women’s entrepreneurship, but mainly through providing knowledge and resources, rather than through reducing social gender inequality.