The aim of this paper is to provide a starting point for an international research project concerned with the nature of female entrepreneurship in the Ukraine, Moldova and Uzbekistan. The paper discusses the key issues to be investigated in the project. It contains the results of a literature review concerning female entrepreneurship in western and transition economies. Research questions Female entrepreneurship is important for transition economies not only as a solution to growing unemployment but also in order to take advantage of the potential contribution of women entrepreneurs to economic and social transformation. Research results from those few studies available on women entrepreneurs in transition economies (e.g., Glas, Petrin 1998; Isakova 2000) suggest a similar picture to that emerging from Western research, namely that: women businesses are typically smaller than their male counterparts, tending to dominate in sectors which have low barriers of entry in terms of human and financial capital, but high turnover rates. All this leaves women business potentially more vulnerable which might be aggravated in an uncertain or even hostile transition environment where the institutional infrastructure is still poor. Here, one important research question for female entrepreneurship in transition countries concerns the question of whether distinctive characteristics of women-owned businesses are attributable to genuine gender aspects such as the position of women in economy and society or to the overall business environment. Research in mature market economies apparently confirms a mixture of structural, sociological and individual explanations for differences between female and male entrepreneurs (Brush, Hisrich 1999; Loscocco et al. 1991; McManus 2001). However, part of the differences are also a result of widely heterogeneous forms of female entrepreneurship, which covers small and micro business, street trade, co-entrepreneurial activities in their husband's business, home-based self-employment or subsistence business in an attempt to combine family and income. Whilst previous research on female entrepreneurs in transition countries concentrated on the characteristics of women entrepreneurs most of these studies neglect both the heterogeneity of female entrepreneurship and the influence of the role attributed to women (entrepreneurs) in society. Society as it manifests itself in cultural norms, traditions and religion might result in presuppositions concerning the roles ascribed to men and women (Chell, Baines 1998). This in turn could influence the routes for women into entrepreneurship as well as the extent of female entrepreneurship, the form their entrepreneurial activities take and their success. Research on young entrepreneurs in transition economies revealed that female entrepreneurs in NIS countries were more likely to pursue a business with their husband/friend or father as partners or guardians whilst it apparently was easier for women in Central European countries to act as entrepreneurs on their own (Roberts, Tholen 1999). Although this might be partly a result of differing business environments it may also reflect gender specific roles with respect to the role of women and the overall entrepreneurial image in NIS countries. In this context, there is a role for research to analyse the nature and extent of female entrepreneurship and to discuss possibilities of supporting it. That includes analysing the economic and social roles of female entrepreneurs. There also is a need to challenge stereotypes of gender research, which requires robust empirical research in order to control for non-gender variables. Our research project will combine research into the nature and extent of female entrepreneurship in selected transition economies, with an analysis of the specific role female entrepreneurs play in the process of social and economic transformation. Ukraine, Moldova and Uzbekistan were selected for investigation in this project for a number of reasons. All represent economies where entrepreneurship in all sections of society is at a relatively low level, requiring encouragement. At the same time, differences in country size and cultural traditions lead to some expectations that there are differences in the opportunities for women's involvement in entrepreneurial activity. Structure of the paper First, the paper reviews alternative theories of how to explain gender-specific differences in entrepreneurship which either focus on the process of venture creation, the resource base or the political, economic and cultural environment, setting out the main questions and hypotheses for our project. This is followed by a presentation of empirical evidence concerning the nature and extent of female entrepreneurship in a mature market context and a discussion of the role public policy could play in supporting female entrepreneurship. The paper concludes with a discussion of the distinctive contexts and roles of female entrepreneurs in the countries, where we will conduct our research. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1. Introduction Research questions - Structure of the paper 2. A theoretical discussion: is female entrepreneurship different? Opportunity recognition and female entrepreneurship - A resource-based view: human, financial, and social capital - An institutional perspective: the role of the political, economic and cultural environment 3. The nature and extent of female entrepreneurship: some empirical evidence from Western economies Examples and characteristics of female entrepreneurship - Gender-specific ways into entrepreneurship? - Gender, business performance and growth 4. Female entrepeneurship - a case for public support? The institutional and legal context for female entrepreneurship in Western countries - Support needs of female entrepreneurs - Policies to foster (female) entrepreneurship 5. The economic and social role(s) of female entrepreneurs in Ukraine, Moldova and Uzbekistan Ukraine - Moldova - Uzbekistan - The distinctiveness of female roles in post Soviet countries References
