Examining the challenges of migrant women entrepreneurs in the EU: Mind the gaps!

Abstract

Despite growing evidence that immigrant entrepreneurship is male-dominated and the gender gap in entrepreneurship is widening, our understanding of the factors driving this disparity remains limited. Existing research primarily focuses on micro-level determinants such as individual characteristics and firm-specific factors, with insufficient systematic analysis of the macroeconomic influences shaping the gender gap in immigrant entrepreneurship. This paper addresses this gap by investigating the determinants of the gender gap in immigrant entrepreneurship within the European Union (EU) from 2006 to 2022, utilizing a comprehensive analysis of macroeconomic statistics. The study finds that while the overall share of immigrant entrepreneurs in the EU has nearly doubled over the past decade, significant disparities persist across member states. The analysis identifies key variables influencing the gender gap in immigrant entrepreneurship, including the unemployment rate of foreign-born females, regulatory framework, civil gender liberties, tertiary education, GDP per capita, and the gender pay gap.