Future of Egyptian female entrepreneurs post COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Doaa M. Salman Abdou
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
Female Entrepreneurs ◽  
Female Participation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Accelerate Development ◽  
Entrepreneurial Activities ◽  
The Impact

PurposeCurrently, COVID-19 delayed economic growth and forced many businesses to shut down. Both formal and informal entrepreneurs are trying to develop a way out to survive. To measure the impact of the current crisis it is important to consider that many females are unrecorded in the formal market due to their secondary jobs as housewives. This paper explores some of the determinants that contribute in the acceleration of the Egyptian female entrepreneurs (EFEs) to participate in the labour force.Design/methodology/approachThe Dynamic model can determine the link between EG and Egyptian female labour force participation (EFLFP) for the period between 1990 and 2019. The cointegration test provides an insight on the future path of the relation and the significant role of EFEs in the labour market.FindingsThe outcomes point out the existence of a positive significant impact by the EG on the EFLFP and a fluctuating relation between fertility rates and the EFLFP. The results support the literature and highlight the current challenges, as the EFLFP is minute due to the increase of EG. Taking into consideration that many female activities are unrecorded and official statistics only counts the monetarist economic activities and does not include the secondary and mandatory activities – delivered at house. Results provide guidance on setting the required strategies and policies to survive after the corona crisis.Research limitations/implicationsThe study cover only the time interval during 1990 and 2020. No available data before this interval.Practical implicationsEgyptian entrepreneurs is challenged with numerous obstacles difficulties such as lack of experience, shortages of finance, marketing channels and finally the pandemic. On ground many entrepreneurs depend on starting their business using a bootstrapping approach to overcome such obstacles and focuses on primary activities. In developing countries the importance role of female entrepreneurs needs to be disseminated as they can function efficiently from home and can balance between house commitment and the country commitments. Using technology can help in measure the female participation and foster their education to enter entrepreneurial activities and accelerate development and growth.Social implicationsIn developing countries the importance role of female entrepreneurs needs to be disseminated as they can function efficiently from home and can balance between house commitment and the country commitments. Using technology can help in measure the female participation and foster their education to enter entrepreneurial activities and accelerate development and growth.Originality/valueThe current study contributes to the new stream of empirical analysis that provides evidence of the role of EFEs in one of the highest population developing countries (Egypt) during the time of corona virus. Also, shows the impact of COVID-19 that forced EFEs to develop micro-businesses. Results point out to the minor role of EFEs in the formal economic activities and provide an insight on the required regulations and policies to accelerate EFEs. Female activities in the informal market that are unmeasured lead to underestimating the female contribution. As well, the indirect role of female at house is not included in the data.

Could CSR improve the financial performance of developing countries’ firms? Analyses of mediating effect of intangible resources

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Hamdoun ◽  
Mohamed Akli Achabou ◽  
Sihem Dekhili
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Human Capital ◽  
Financial Performance ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Social Dimension ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Intangible Resources ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This paper aims to examine the link between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and financial performance in the context of developing countries. More specifically, the mediating role of a firm’s competitive advantage and intangible resources, namely, human capital and reputation are studied. Design/methodology/approach The study considered a sample of 100 Tunisian firms. The analysis makes use of the structural equation modelling method to explore the relationship between CSR and financial performance, by including mediator variables. Findings The results confirm that CSR has no significant direct effect on financial performance. In particular, they indicate that the social dimension of CSR has a negative impact on performance. However, CSR does have a positive impact on competitive advantage via the two intangible resources considered, human capital and company reputation. Research limitations/implications The research fills a gap that occurred in the previous literature. In effect, previous studies focussed only on the direct link between CSR and financial performance. In addition, it enriches the limited literature on CSR strategies in the context of developing countries. However, further studies should explore the opposite relationship, i.e. the impact of financial performance on CSR strategy. In addition, the authors believe that amongst other potential research avenues, it would be interesting to study the moderating role of the activity sector. Practical implications From a practical point of view, this study suggests new applications with respect to the link between CSR and financial performance. To enhance their company’s financial performance, managers need to ensure that intangible resources are managed efficiently. Originality/value The paper contributes to the literature by examining how a firm’s intangible resources mediate between CSR and competitive advantage and how competitive advantage mediates between intangible resources and financial performance. Second originality is related to the study of the link between CSR and the financial performance of business organisations in the context of a developing country.

The role of audit committees in mitigating earnings management: evidence from Jordan

2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Taha Almarayeh ◽  
Modar Abdullatif ◽  
Beatriz Aibar-Guzmán
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Earnings Management ◽  
Audit Committee ◽  
Discretionary Accruals ◽  
Least Square ◽  
Audit Committees ◽  
Institutional Setting ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThis study examines the relationship between audit committees (ACs) and earnings management (EM) in the developing country context of Jordan. In particular, it investigates whether audit committee attributes, including their size, independence, expertise and meetings, are able to restrict discretionary accruals as a proxy for EM.Design/methodology/approachThe generalized least square (GLS) regression was used to study the association between audit committee attributes and discretionary accruals, as a proxy of EM, for a sample of industrial firms listed on the Amman Stock Exchange (ASE) during the period 2012–2020. Data were obtained from the firms' annual reports.FindingsThe regression results indicate that audit committee independence is the only audit committee attribute that seems to improve the effectiveness of ACs, in that it is significantly associated with less EM, while other audit committee attributes that were tested do not show statistically significant associations.Research limitations/implicationsIn emerging markets, like Jordan, ACs may not be an efficient monitoring mechanism; therefore, it can be argued that the prediction made by the agency theory about the role of ACs in mitigating opportunistic EM activities does not necessarily apply to all contexts.Practical implicationsA better understanding of audit committee effectiveness in developing countries could help regulators in these countries assess the impact of planned corporate governance (CG) reforms and to better monitor and enhance the performance of ACs.Social implicationsIn a setting characterized by closely held companies, high power distance and low demand for high-quality CG mechanisms, this study contributes to understanding how this business system operates, and how improving CG mechanisms could be successful in such cultures.Originality/valueThis study investigates the under-researched relationship between audit committee characteristics and EM in developing countries. In so doing, it aims to provide new insights into this relationship within the developing context case of Jordan, including if and how the institutional setting influences this relationship.

Socio-cultural environments and emerging economy entrepreneurship

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grisna Anggadwita ◽  
Bachruddin Saleh Luturlean ◽  
Veland Ramadani ◽  
Vanessa Ratten
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Women Entrepreneurs ◽  
Entrepreneurial Activity ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Integrated Analysis ◽  
Cultural Environment ◽  
Women Entrepreneurship ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Entrepreneurial Activities ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Women entrepreneurship has been growing and contributing significantly to economic activities, and it may also reduce unemployment, especially in developing countries. Many women entrepreneurs have begun to experience problems, including within their socio-cultural environment, in the beginning of or when they run their businesses. Among those developing countries, Indonesia has been recognized as having diverse ethnic groups, traditions, religions and languages. The purpose of this paper is to analyse how the socio-cultural environment affects women entrepreneurs in Indonesia. Design/methodology/approach This study aims at exploring the impact of the socio-cultural environment on entrepreneurial behavior, including the involvement of women in entrepreneurial activities in Indonesia as a multicultural country. A theoretical framework is empirically tested to identify the impact of the socio-culture environment on behavior and on women entrepreneurial activity through an integrated analysis. Findings A quantitative method with a causal descriptive approach is used in this study. The data are analyzed by using a descriptive statistics with the structural equation modeling technique. This study is intended to focus on women entrepreneurs in micro, small and medium enterprises in Bandung, Indonesia. A total of 210 women entrepreneurs have participated in this study. Practical implications include useful information for women entrepreneurs to overcome the impact of the socio-cultural environment in their entrepreneurial activities, and suggest insights for future research. Originality/value The development of women entrepreneurship in emerging economies may continuously face challenges, particularly in countries with multicultural attributes.

Empowering Jordanian women through entrepreneurship

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 133-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muntaha Banihani
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Women Entrepreneurs ◽  
Social Perceptions ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Female Entrepreneurs ◽  
Family Responsibilities ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Physical Mobility ◽  
The Impact

Purpose A strong correlation has been found across several countries between women’s positions in society and economic development, suggesting that there is a relationship between women’s empowerment and countries’ economic development. Despite the impact women have in terms of economic activity and job creation, however, the role of women entrepreneurs is often underplayed and undervalued. Therefore, this paper aims to investigate the challenges women entrepreneurs face in Jordan to uncover ways to empower them. Design/methodology/approach This qualitative research used in-depth interviews with 15 women to investigate their perceptions regarding the challenges affecting their businesses. Semi-structured interviews were used to allow participants flexibility in expressing their views and experiences. The results from the interviews were analysed using NVIVO software to identify themes and categories. Findings It was found that women entrepreneurs in Jordan still face many challenges, primarily related to family responsibilities, networking and physical mobility. Research limitations/implications Recommendations for scholars and decision makers are presented to reduce the impact of the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in Jordan. Originality/value This research contributes to the current entrepreneurial literature as it provides a deeper understanding of the experiences of women entrepreneurs in Jordan. Thus, it heeds the call for more research on women entrepreneurs in developing countries. In shedding light on the experiences of female entrepreneurs in Jordan, this paper provides strong arguments for challenging the traditional social perceptions regarding the roles of women.

Determinants of innovation outputs in developing countries

2015 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 237-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reza Ghazal ◽  
Muhamed Zulkhibri
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Panel Data ◽  
Negative Binomial ◽  
Developing Economies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Innovation Activities ◽  
Fertile Ground ◽  
Main Determinants ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the determinants of innovation outputs proxied by number of patent applications, trademarks and industrial designs in developing countries. Design/methodology/approach – The paper employs a panel data and Negative Binomial method to analyse the main determinants affecting the innovation outputs. Findings – The results implicitly suggest that providing a fertile ground to attract more foreign direct investment (FDI) can lead to much better innovation outputs. The study also strongly supports the role of institutions and governance for increasing innovation activities in developing economies as indicated by positive impacts of governance factors in the model. However, the impact of economic freedom indicators on improving innovation outputs is mixed. Originality/value – This paper contributes to the existing literature in two ways: it examines the effect of FDI and research and development on innovation of selected developing countries; and the study uses a panel data approach to increase the accuracy of the results through exploiting the significant variations of innovation outputs across countries, while controlling for a larger number of innovation outputs and product determinants. To the authors knowledge, this is the first empirical study on the behaviour of innovation outputs for developing countries.

Psycho-attitudinal features: a study of female entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 459-480
Author(s):  
Maram Saeed Sabri ◽  
Keith Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Big Five ◽  
Risk Propensity ◽  
Entrepreneurial Process ◽  
Female Entrepreneurs ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Big Five Model ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Gender Specific

Purpose This paper aims to investigate psycho-attitudinal features in female entrepreneurs participating in micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in Saudi Arabia, using the Big Five model of personality traits and risk propensity. These attitudes, further grouped into three broad categories, namely, fixed, moderate and growth-oriented mindsets, are used to illustrate the collective impact of attitude over the entrepreneurial process. Design/methodology/approach The study is a quantitative study, using a survey to registered business owners and entrepreneurs operating in micro, small and medium businesses in Riyadh, Makkah and Eastern Province, three major administration areas of Saudi Arabia. Survey distribution was through the Chamber of Commerce located in each city. In total, 701 questionnaires were collected with 232 completed responses suitable for use in the study’s empirical findings. The overall response rate was 33 per cent. Findings The paper provides practical insights into gender-specific attitudes, including reported variance over the entrepreneurial process. It shows that attitude is an equally predominant feature for both genders through all business stages, with female entrepreneurs reporting a slightly higher growth-oriented attitude relative to their male counterparts. Overall, significant differences were noted between gender and business stages for five of the six-attitudinal growth subscales. From a policy perspective, noting the country’s plan for economic reform and desire for greater participation by women, there are important questions that arise concerning the impact of incentive devices and policy measures. Research limitations/implications The main limitation of this study is in the number of women participants, which was small. As participation rates for women rise, there is a good opportunity for future analysis to extend this current study’s findings. Practical implications The research uses the Big Five model and risk propensity to explore the important role of attitude in female entrepreneurs. Noting the moderating influence of factors in the macro-environment and the pervasive impact of social norms on women, this study flags some implications for government and policymakers in formulating supportive policies to enable greater uptake by women entrepreneurs with growth-oriented mindsets. Originality/value This paper contributes to the literature on the role of gender-specific attitudes through the business stages. This paper presents original research on the attitudes of women in the context of Arabic society.

Hospital-supplier integration and hospital performance: evidence from Saudi Arabia

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saad Alshahrani ◽  
Shams Rahman ◽  
Caroline Chan
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Hospital Performance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Supplier Integration ◽  
Lean Practices ◽  
Overall Performance ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Moderating Role

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop a comprehensive conceptual model for the impact of hospital-supplier integration on the overall performance of healthcare organisations. It also investigates the moderating role of lean practices between hospital-supplier integration and hospital performance. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from 498 public and private hospitals in Saudi Arabia using a survey. Structural equation modelling was used for data analysis. Findings The results indicate that hospital-supplier integration has a positive impact on the hospital performance. These effects are even more notable when adopting lean practices in the hospitals. Research limitations/implications The data were collected from one developing country, namely Saudi Arabia. Thus, the findings may be relevant to the Saudi context but not those of other developing countries. Second, the data were collected from the hospitals’ end but not from the suppliers, so the latter’s perspectives on the themes covered here are not known. Future research may investigate the validity of the model in various developing countries whose healthcare systems have different characteristics, and the relationships between hospitals and their suppliers may follow different governance models. Practical implications The developed model and results will help hospitals in the Saudi health system to make better decisions on managing their logistics and supply partners. Originality/value This study extends the current research by developing a model that highlights the impact of hospital-supplier integration on the overall performance of healthcare organisations and tests this model to confirm its validity. To the authors’ knowledge, this study would be one of the first that uses both lean thinking and relational view of competitive advantage theory combined to examine the moderating role of lean practices on the inter-organisational relationships in Saudi Arabia.

A comparative analysis of agricultural research and extension reforms in China and India

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 541-572 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suresh Chandra Babu ◽  
Jikun Huang ◽  
P. Venkatesh ◽  
Yumei Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Agricultural Development ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
China And India ◽  
The Reformation ◽  
Development Outcomes ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – There is growing interest from the global development community in the role of agricultural research and extension (AR & E) systems to achieve development targets. Despite this interest, many smallholders in developing countries continue to lack access to updated agricultural information and reliable services. In an effort to increase the effectiveness, impact, and reach of AR & E programs, many governments have attempted to reform their national systems. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – This paper systematically compares the systems and reforms of AR & E in China and India in order to draw out lessons applicable to developing countries. This paper first reviews the existing literature on AR & E systems and their role in agricultural and economic development. The authors then provide a detailed review and comparative analysis of the reforms and approaches implemented in the AR & E systems of China and India. The authors apply this comparative analysis to draw out lessons that can be applied to inform the reformation of AR & E systems in developing countries. Findings – The authors find that although both countries face similar agricultural development challenges, each took a different approach in the reformation of AR & E to address these challenges. Each country’s approaches had different impacts on the effectiveness of the system. Lessons from the reformation of the AR & E systems in China and India can be used to inform and improve the impact of AR & E in developing countries. Originality/value – The paper examines two systems together using a set of common indicators and factors. The paper’s value comes from its usefulness in informing future AR & E reforms in other developing countries in order to increase the impact of these reforms on development outcomes.

Predicting entrepreneurial intentions through self-efficacy, family support, and regret

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ishfaq Ahmed ◽  
Talat Islam ◽  
Ahmad Usman
Keyword(s):  
Family Support ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Entrepreneurial Intentions ◽  
Basic Premise ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Entrepreneurial Activities ◽  
Internal And External Factors ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Entrepreneurial activities are the outcome of various individual dispositional and environmental factors. Taking both internal and external factors as the basic premise of venturing, this study aims to investigate the impact of entrepreneurial self-efficacy on intentions through the mediating role of regret and moderation of family support. Design/methodology/approach Data was collected through a questionnaire from 435 students of three large public sector universities at two points of time with an interval of four months. Findings Self-efficacy influences entrepreneurial intentions through regret, while the absence of family support increases regret. As the family support is often perceived to be absent in the Pakistani entrepreneurial culture, the outcomes are distinctive. Originality/value These findings add value in the existing literature by linking family support, self-efficacy and regret association, and their ultimate influence on entrepreneurial intentions.

Does public sector crowd out entrepreneurship? Evidence from the EU regions

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 866-881 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva Zikou ◽  
Nikos Varsakelis ◽  
Aikaterini K. Sarri
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Economic Activity ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Regional Level ◽  
Regional Economic ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Entrepreneurial Activities ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The decision to engage in entrepreneurial activities is grounded in personal characteristics (motivation) and external environmental factors. One of the main external factors might be the structure of the regional economic activity. Does a high share of the public sector affect positively regional entrepreneurship or vice versa? Does the diversity in regional economic activity is conducive for entrepreneurial development or the regional comparative advantage as expressed by spatial economies of scale offering more entrepreneurial opportunities? Even though economic analysis has extensively examined the impact of the public sector size on the overall national economic activity (the crowding out effect), this impact has not been into scrutiny at regional level on microeconomic issues, such as the decision to engage in entrepreneurial activities. The authors further investigate the relation between diversity and entrepreneurship at regional level. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses data for 264 NUTS II EU regions. The time span of the data set is 1999-2008. The paper applies panel data analysis to explain the cross-time cross-section variation of the dependent variable: the self-employment share in total employment at regional level. In order to measure the existence of crowding out from public sector to regional entrepreneurship, the authors use the share of regional public sector gross value added over total regional gross value added. The diversity of the regional economic activity is measured by the Herfindahl-Hirschman Concentration Index across sectors. Findings The findings of the paper show that there is a negative correlation between public sector share and regional entrepreneurship. Hence, as at national level, the increase in the role of the public sector in the regional economic system crowds out regional entrepreneurship. The second finding indicates that the impact of the diversity of the regional economic activity on regional entrepreneurship is inconclusive. Originality/value The originality of this paper is due to the fact that the role of the public sector on regional economic phenomena, such as entrepreneurship, is examined for the first time. Also, the investigation of the relationship between diversity (vs localization economies) and entrepreneurship is performed using data for the full sample of regions of the European Union. The findings of the paper have significant policy implications since they provide useful inputs for the design of the regional development policy. The reduction of the public sector at regional level may contribute in entrepreneurial development and finally in regional economic growth and prosperity. Besides, the regional industrial policy should focus on the exploitation of the spatially constraint economies of scope in the framework of the Triple Helix model.

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