Gender and Entrepreneurship

Amanda Elam proposes and tests an alternative view of entrepreneurship based on contemporary sociological theory. The resulting cross-national theory of gender and entrepreneurship specifies the context from which individuals initiate the creation of new businesses. This book examines three distinct contributions to the study of entrepreneurship. Firstly, it contributes to both sociological and institutional theories of entrepreneurship and the entrepreneur. Secondly, it presents a cross-national comparative framework for the multilevel analysis of entrepreneurship. Finally, this book produces a key multilevel finding with regard to the importance of national gender beliefs for the likelihood of business creation among both men and women. Gender and Entrepreneurship will be an invaluable tool for researchers and policymakers interested in testing assumptions about the importance and influence of key national factors on rates of entrepreneurial activity.