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Gender-based policies and women’s entrepreneurship: an fsQCA analysis of sub-Saharan African countries

Abiodun Samuel Adegbile (Department of Management, Nottingham Business School, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK)
Oyedele Martins Ogundana (Department of Accounting and Finance, Nottingham Business School, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK)
Sola Adesola (Oxford Brookes Business School, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK)

International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research

ISSN: 1355-2554

Article publication date: 5 February 2024

Issue publication date: 23 August 2024

293

Abstract

Purpose

Entrepreneurship policy is a vital component of any entrepreneurial ecosystem. However, the specific policy initiatives that have a greater impact on women's entrepreneurship remain unclear in many developing economies. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of entrepreneurship policies targeted at women’s entrepreneurship in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

Design/methodology/approach

Employing fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), this paper utilises and analyses secondary data collected by the World Bank's Women, Business, and the Law (WBL) from 1970 to 2020, encompassing 48 countries within SSA.

Findings

Through our analysis, we identified two configurations that sufficiently support women's entrepreneurship. First, a combination of gender-based policies focussing on enabling “access to credit” and “signing of contracts”; and second, a blend of policies supporting “signing of contracts”, “business registration”, and “opening a bank account”, represent significant antecedents to supporting women's entrepreneurship. These distinct pathways are crucial to fostering women’s entrepreneurship in the SSA region.

Research limitations/implications

The study's findings indicate that the impact and effectiveness of entrepreneurship policies targeted at women entrepreneurs in developing economies depend on the effectiveness of other policies that are in place.

Originality/value

This study offers new insights into the intricate interrelationship between entrepreneurship policies and women’s entrepreneurship in developing countries by considering the interdependence and combinative value of gender-based policies that effectively support women’s entrepreneurship in sub-Saharan Africa.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Since submission of this article, the following author(s) have updated their affiliations: Abiodun Samuel Adegbile is at the College of Business, Digital Transformation and Entrepreneurship, Birmingham City Business School, Birmingham City University, Birmingham, UK.

Citation

Adegbile, A.S., Ogundana, O.M. and Adesola, S. (2024), "Gender-based policies and women’s entrepreneurship: an fsQCA analysis of sub-Saharan African countries", International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, Vol. 30 No. 7, pp. 1811-1837. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEBR-04-2023-0394

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited

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