TRANSITION FROM DREAMERS-ENTREPRENEURS TO ACTIVE ENTREPRENEURS: GENDER DIFFERENCES IN NATIONAL ECONOMIES

Abstract

The article is devoted to the actual problem of the existing differences in the early entrepreneurial activity of women and men. The aim of the study is to assess the current levels of interest and participation of women and men in early entrepreneurship in modern national economies. The study solved the problems of determining the values of indicators that characterize the intentions of people to create their own new businesses, their involvement in this activity, as well as the ownership of newly created enterprises. The study used the results of surveys conducted in 59 countries during the implementation of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitoring Project as the initial information. The study examined the assessment of 9 indicators that characterize the early entrepreneurship of women and men, as well as the corresponding gender differences. Functions were obtained that demonstrate the distribution of indicators in 59 countries, describing the proportion of women and men, who have intentions to create their own businesses, and are involved in these processes, and are beginners in entrepreneurship. In addition, an assessment of gender differences in 3 stages of early entrepreneurship was carried out. The results showed that in most countries there is a gender gap between the indicators of early entrepreneurial activity, women participate in such activity to a lesser extent compared to men. The author's assessment of the values of indicators for Russia and foreign countries showed that in our country, both women and men are less interested in an entrepreneurial career than representatives of other countries. The results obtained are new and original, and have theoretical and practical significance for governments and entrepreneurs. The methodological approach presented in the article to the assessment of gender differences in early entrepreneurship can be applied in further studies. The new knowledge gained is of interest and can be used in the educational process at universities.