Exploring the gender gap in women's entrepreneurship: a narrative policy analysis

Female entrepreneurship for economic development is widely accepted and numerous studies demonstrate the positive impact of female entrepreneurs on economic growth and development. However, there remains a gender gap in our understanding of issues and challenges women face related to policies influencing access to credit, resources and assets related to economic participation and political empowerment. This chapter reviews current indices that reflect the gender gap globally, then using the United States as a case study, utilizes a Narrative Policy Framework Analysis that considers how narratives across macro, meso and micro influence policy. This analysis shows that current approaches often isolate and individualize problems leading to less effective policies. We conclude with several areas for potential change, note implications and next steps for research.