Cross-cultural cognitive conditions and gender differences in the entrepreneurial activity during the COVID-19 pandemic

The purpose of this study is to advance knowledge on the gender-specific conditions that lead to higher entrepreneurial activity (EA) in challenging contexts by examining the interdependencies between several cognitive dimensions (perceived opportunities, perceived capabilities, being undeterred by fear of failure, knowing an entrepreneur who started a business because of the pandemic) and one cultural dimension (masculinity) and their relationship with EA of women and men during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Using data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor’s special report “Women’s Entrepreneurship 2020/21: Thriving Through Crisis” for 43 countries, this study uses fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis to assess complex causal conditions.

Results revealed six different causal configurations leading to high female EA and the same number leading to high male EA during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although half of these configurations are gender specific, this study found several similarities in the complex conditions leading to the same outcome for women and men. The specific dimensions of perceived opportunities and knowing an entrepreneur who started a business because of the pandemic were crucial for both genders. Still, the latter is particularly important for women. Masculinity orientation was only relevant in the male sample.

Despite the remarkable growth of the research on gender and entrepreneurship over the past years, there is still limited knowledge on what leads to women and men’s EA in times of crisis. This study's results advance the understanding of gender differences and similarities regarding the complex conditions that favour EA under highly challenging circumstances such as the ones imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.