The high-growth expectation of early-stage entrepreneurs: an international approach to the role of gendered contexts

Abstract

High-growth entrepreneurship emerges as a crucial economic phenomenon, given its remarkably positive impact on job creation and sustainable economic growth. We focus this study on entrepreneurs’ high-growth expectation, as growth aspirations have been proven to be chief contributors to firm growth. Specifically, in light of the growing importance of women’s participation in entrepreneurship, we evaluate possible differences in high-growth expectations between men and women entrepreneurs and explore the role of context in causing gender differences. Drawing on a sample from 44 countries in the 2009 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), we find that the effect of gender differs depending on the country’s level of gender inequality. We thus conclude that the effect of gender on the entrepreneur’s high-growth expectation is context-specific.