Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/215173 
Year of Publication: 
2019
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 12777
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
In the aftermath of the global financial crisis, policymakers have been increasingly striving to support female entrepreneurship as a possible growth driver. This paper contributes to reconciling mixed findings in the literature on the effectiveness of entrepreneurial training with an analysis that links training and human capital, including tertiary education and non-cognitive skills, with gender gaps in entrepreneurial performance in Africa. We have found that while financial literacy training directly benefits men, it does not raise the sales level of women entrepreneurs. Instead, tertiary education has a direct positive link with the performance of women. Consistent with our theoretical model where different skills are complements, tertiary education can act as a channel that makes training effective. Regarding non-cognitive skills, evidence shows that women entrepreneurs who are tenacious achieve stronger sales performance. Our results underscore the importance of incorporating tertiary education and entrepreneurial training programs focused on a balanced set of skills, including non-cognitive skills, among policies for women entrepreneurs.
Subjects: 
non-cognitive skills
training
female entrepreneurship
tertiary education
JEL: 
L53
O12
J4
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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