Title: Does the level of education obtained by female entrepreneurs encourage their participation in the economy? A panel data analysis of five Asian countries

Authors: Anu Lohan; Shabnam Hussain; Parveen Kumar

Addresses: Department of Management Studies, J. C. Bose University of Science and Technology, YMCA, Faridabad-121006, Haryana, India ' Department of Commerce, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh-202002, Uttar Pradesh, India ' Department of Management Studies, J.C. Bose University of Science and Technology, YMCA, Faridabad-121006, Haryana, India

Abstract: This research aims to explore how women entrepreneurs contribute to the economy along with their educational background. The main focus is to examine the relationship between female entrepreneurs and educational attainment at the county level. The study relied on secondary data extracted from the Global Gender Gap Report and the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Reports spanning the years 2006 to 2020. This dataset encompassed information from five Asian nations: China, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan. Balanced panel data analysis was employed to derive our findings. The findings show that women entrepreneurs' academic achievement increases the gender gap concerning economic participation. A woman's level of education and the opportunity and participation of women entrepreneurs in economic activity were found to be negatively correlated. Researchers who are fascinated by exploring female entrepreneurs would find this study useful as it emphasises the impact made by female entrepreneurs in Asian nations.

Keywords: female entrepreneurship; gender gap; educational attainment; economic participation; economic opportunities.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTLID.2025.144535

International Journal of Technological Learning, Innovation and Development, 2025 Vol.16 No.1, pp.76 - 89

Received: 09 May 2024
Accepted: 30 Jun 2024
Published online: 18 Feb 2025 *