Innovation by entrepreneurs in China: the increasing prominence of women
Journal of Knowledge-based Innovation in China
ISSN: 1756-1418
Article publication date: 27 September 2013
Abstract
Purpose
Innovation differs among individuals and societies and changes over time. The question is whether female entrepreneurs in China are becoming more prominent in innovation? Are women entrepreneurs' participation, education, competence, opportunity-motivation and innovativeness increasing in China, perhaps faster than elsewhere around the world? The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
These questions are addressed by analyzing the data from Global Entrepreneurship Monitor on nascent entrepreneurs in the countries surveyed in at least two years since 2001 with at least five years between first and most recent survey. The sample is 129,465 nascent entrepreneurs in 58 countries, including 4,433 entrepreneurs starting an enterprise in China. These entrepreneurs reported on their innovativeness, comprising newness of technology used in production, absence of competitors producing the same products, and three newness of the product to customers. The data are analyzed by multivariate statistics, especially regressions and hierarchical models.
Findings
First, among the entrepreneurs starting enterprises in China, the proportion of women has increased dramatically over the years, approaching equality with the men. Second, women entrepreneurs compared to male entrepreneurs in China have increased in education, competences, opportunity motive and innovativeness. The increasing prominence of women in innovation in China is unsurpassed by any other country in the sample and thus seems unique in the world.
Originality/value
This study is valuable by exploring the changing participation of women in entrepreneurship and especially in the entrepreneurship that is innovative.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Data have been collected and provided by Global Entrepreneurship Monitor. Interpretations rest with the author. Part of the study was presented at the China Innovation and Circles Academy – Learning, Innovation and Competence Systems (CICALICS) Workshop, August 2013, Beijing. The study benefited from guidance by Professor Thomas Schøtt.
Citation
Cheraghi, M. (2013), "Innovation by entrepreneurs in China: the increasing prominence of women", Journal of Knowledge-based Innovation in China, Vol. 5 No. 3, pp. 172-187. https://doi.org/10.1108/JKIC-08-2013-0016
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2013, Emerald Group Publishing Limited