This research investigates the impact of gender parity on entrepreneurial activity levels, exploring the interplay between the digital ecosystem, public policy, and the specific motivators and barriers faced by women entrepreneurs. We employ a mixed-methods design. A qualitative literature review establishes the global context of women's entrepreneurship. A quantitative linear regression analysis is conducted on data from 47 countries to model the relationship between the female-to-male early-stage entrepreneurial activity (TEA) ratio and the overall TEA rate, controlling for economic and educational variables. The regression analysis reveals that increased gender parity in entrepreneurship has a strong, statistically significant positive effect on a country's total entrepreneurial activity. Other factors, such as GDP per capita and unemployment rate, show a negative relationship with TEA. The review identifies key motivators (e.g., market opportunity, self-employment) and barriers (e.g., access to capital, cultural norms). The results provide a robust evidence base for policymakers. Recommendations include developing gender-sensitive policies, improving access to finance and digital training, and implementing measures to counteract cultural stereotypes and support work-life balance for women entrepreneurs. This paper provides a novel global empirical analysis of the gender gap's impact on entrepreneurship, directly linking quantitative findings with qualitative insights to generate actionable policy recommendations for fostering female entrepreneurship in the digital age.
Maksimović et al. (Wed,) studied this question.