Women’s entrepreneurship policy: a 13 nation cross-country comparison

Abstract

PurposeGovernment attention to women’s entrepreneurship has increased in the past two decades; however, there are few cross-cultural studies to inform policy development. This paper aims to draw on gender and institutional theory to report on the status of female-focused small and medium-sized enterprises/entrepreneurship policies and to ask how – and to what extent – do women’s entrepreneurship policies differ among countries?Design/methodology/approachA common methodological approach is used to identify gaps in the policy-practice nexus.FindingsThe study highlights countries where policy is weak but practice is strong, and vice versa.Research limitations/implicationsThe study’s data were restricted to policy documents and observations of practices and initiatives on the ground.Practical implicationsThe findings have implications for policy makers in respect of support for women’s entrepreneurship. Recommendations for future research are advanced.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to extant knowledge and understanding about entrepreneurship policy, specifically in relation to women’s entrepreneurship. It is also one of the few studies to use a common methodological approach to explore and compare women’s entrepreneurship policies in 13 countries.