The influence of culture on women´s entrepreneurial intentions

  • Louisa Sophie Aldag (Student)

Student thesis: Master's Thesis

Abstract

This study investigates how culture influences the drivers of entrepreneurial intention amongwomen. Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) data of four different European countriesfrom 2014 to 2016 was used as well as Hofstede’s cultural dimensions. We analysed genderdifferences across cultures in shaping perceptions of the drivers to foster entrepreneurialactivity. In line with the Theory of Planned Behaviour, we found that women have weakerpersonal attraction, perceived behavioural control and partly weaker subjective norms towardsentrepreneurship than men. Our findings show that when women overcome such barriers,women’s entrepreneurial intention across cultures increases significantly. Perceivedbehavioural control for women is moderated by culture, with perceived own skills havingstronger effects in low masculinity cultures, and networks being more valuable in highmasculinity and high power distance cultures. These findings suggest that policymakers needto adapt programs and initiatives to the cultural context to effectively increase entrepreneurialactivity among women.
Date of Award25 Jan 2021
Original languageEnglish
Awarding Institution
  • Universidade Católica Portuguesa
SupervisorCláudia Isabel de Sousa Costa (Supervisor)

Keywords

  • Female entrepreneurship
  • Entrepreneurial intention
  • Gender inequalities
  • Theory of planned behaviour

Designation

  • Mestrado em Gestão e Administração de Empresas

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