Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2015

DOI

10.1108/JEPP-02-2013-0009

Publication Title

Journal of Entrepreneurship and Public Policy

Volume

4

Issue

1

Pages

85-101

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to examine differences in factors influencing use of entrepreneurial assistance programs by male and female entrepreneurs. Design/methodology/approach – Data from the Panel Study of Entrepreneurial Dynamics I are used to determine drivers of assistance program use by men and women using logistic regression. These drivers include size and composition of the start-up team and personal network, experiences of the entrepreneur, team and network; support provided by the team and network, and other factors. Findings – In total, 31 percent of female entrepreneurs and 24 percent of male entrepreneurs in the sample used entrepreneurial assistance programs. Results show that drivers of assistance use do vary by gender. Education, business/entrepreneurial knowledge and involvement in a technology-based start-up are drivers of program use by women. Personal network size, entrepreneurial experience of start-up team, and having worked for parents’ business are drivers of program use by men. Practical implications – This study inform policy and support practices about use of assistance programs and suggests that the support drivers of women are different, justifying continued need for targeted assistance programs such as those specifically for women starting technology-based ventures. Originality/value – This research addresses gender differences in use of assistance programs. Results provide support that a “one-size-fits all” support may not be useful, and that there may be need for targeted assistance programs.

Comments

NOTE: This is the author’s final version (post-print) of a work that was published in Journal of Entrepreneurship and Public Policy. The final version was published as:

Yusuf, J.E. (2015). Gender differences in the use of assistance programs. Journal of Entrepreneurship and Public Policy, 4(1), 85-101. doi: 10.1108/JEPP-02-2013-0009

The final publication is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/JEPP-02-2013-0009

ORCID

0000-0003-3599-1417 (Yusuf)

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