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Women Entrepreneurship
     The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) conducted its first cross-national assessment on women's entrepreneurial activity. Women's entrepreneurship is expanding around the world. Women-owned businesses comprise between one-quarter and one-third of businesses in the formal economy and are likely to play a greater role in the informal sectors. Across the world, generations of women from very different backgrounds contribute to their environment and are showing very encouraging signs of entrepreneurial spirit.

The 2004 GEM study on women's entrepreneurship includes 34 countries and focuses on three main objectives:

  • To measure the level of women's entrepreneurial activity across countries
  • To understand why women become involve in entrepreneurial activity
  • To suggest policies that may increase women's involvement in entrepreneurship

The Report provides a comprehensive and up to date study of the role of women entrepreneurs in the world economy.

GEM: 2006 Report on Women and Entrepreneurship
GEM: 2005 Report on Women and Entrepreneurship
GEM: 2004 Report on Women and Entrepreneurship

Building on Global Entrepreneurship Monitor research, Dr. C. Christopher Baughn, Dr. Bee-Leng Chua and Dr. Kent E. Neupert has conducted in 2006 a study examining impact of specific norms supporting women¡¦s entrepreneurship on the relative rates of women to men engaged in entrepreneurship in different countries. These specific norms are themselves related to both a country¡¦s general support for entrepreneurship and its level of gender equality. Countries with higher overall levels of entrepreneurial activity also tended to evidence higher relative proportions of female participation. These findings are still seen when controlling for the substantial effect of countries¡¦ economic development in shaping patterns of entrepreneurial activity.

The Normative Context forWomen's Participation in Entrepreneruship: A Multicountry Study



The Center for Entrepreneurship is pleased to organize a GEM forum on:
¡§WOMEN IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP: HONG KONG AND SHENZHEN¡¨

2004 Women Entrepreneurs in Hong Kong and Shenzhen Summary Report

Thursday, 23 June 2005 at the CUHK Central Teaching Centre, Lecture Theatre, Bank of America Tower, 1F, Unit A, 12 Harcourt Road, Central, 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM.

The Forum will highlight:

  • Who are the women entrepreneurs in Hong Kong and Shenzhen? Age, education, work experience and exposure to other entrepreneurs are important influences on women's entrepreneurial behavior.

  • What are the women entrepreneurs' perceptions of environmental opportunities as well as confidence in their own capabilities? These are powerful predictors of entrepreneurial behavior.

  • What are the characteristics of women's early-stage entrepreneurship? This section looks at the amount of startup capital women employed, if they use existing technology, and expand into new markets.

  • Finally, what are the policies and programs that would improve the environment whereby women are encouraged to engage in entrepreneurship?



During the Forum, the findings of the GEM 2004 study on women entrepreneurs in Hong Kong and Shenzhen will be presented. A panel of speakers comprising women leaders and entrepreneurs will discuss on factors that enable women to be more successful as entrepreneurs.

The Forum is jointly organized with the Hong Kong Women Professionals and Entrepreneurs Association www.hkwpea.org

Please email entrepreneurship@cuhk.edu.hk to register for the Women in Entrepreneurship Forum.