California Accepted Papers Paper:
Female Entrepreneurship in Egypt: Barriers and Challenges in the Aftermath of the Arab Spring
*Names in bold indicate Presenter
Female Entrepreneurship in Egypt: Barriers and Challenges in the Aftermath of the Arab Spring
Abstract: Examining the constraints faced by female entrepreneurs is an important subject which most literature on female entrepreneurship are centered on. However, majority of the existing literature have focused on studying female entrepreneurs in developed societies (Stevenson, 1986; Bruni, 2004). Minniti & Naudé, (2010) point out the sense of urgency that has recently emerged in trying to understand the challenges and motivations of female entrepreneurs in developing countries. The arousal of such interest has been attributed to women entrepreneurs in developing countries being identified as catalysts of economic development at a national level and champions of poverty eradication at the domestic level (Chamlee-Wright, 1997). This paper therefore, examines the peculiar constraints faced by women-owned businesses in the mist of political chaos and instability. In this case, the issues experienced by female entrepreneurs in Egypt during the aftermath of the Arab Spring is the focus. Using the logit and probit regression models, data from the World Bank Middle East North Africa Enterprise Survey (MENA ES) are analyzed. The results identified that female entrepreneurs still lack business funding through fnancial institutions, but get significant funding assistance from family, friends, and money lenders. In addition, women owned businesses promote and hire mostly women. Female entrepreneurs showed preference for an impartial judicial system as a contributor for business growth.
Abstract: Examining the constraints faced by female entrepreneurs is an important subject which most literature on female entrepreneurship are centered on. However, majority of the existing literature have focused on studying female entrepreneurs in developed societies (Stevenson, 1986; Bruni, 2004). Minniti & Naudé, (2010) point out the sense of urgency that has recently emerged in trying to understand the challenges and motivations of female entrepreneurs in developing countries. The arousal of such interest has been attributed to women entrepreneurs in developing countries being identified as catalysts of economic development at a national level and champions of poverty eradication at the domestic level (Chamlee-Wright, 1997). This paper therefore, examines the peculiar constraints faced by women-owned businesses in the mist of political chaos and instability. In this case, the issues experienced by female entrepreneurs in Egypt during the aftermath of the Arab Spring is the focus. Using the logit and probit regression models, data from the World Bank Middle East North Africa Enterprise Survey (MENA ES) are analyzed. The results identified that female entrepreneurs still lack business funding through fnancial institutions, but get significant funding assistance from family, friends, and money lenders. In addition, women owned businesses promote and hire mostly women. Female entrepreneurs showed preference for an impartial judicial system as a contributor for business growth.
