Why do men succeed more?
- This study investigates why some business ventures succeed as others fail and whether gender differences exist in entrepreneurial success (ES). It addresses a gap in international research by focusing on the survival of self-employment among university graduates - a group often overlooked in entrepreneurship studies, particularly regarding gender-specific factors. The analysis draws on Holland’s (1997) career choice model and Jovanovic’s (1979) job-matching theory to examine how sociodemographic and psychological characteristics influence business survival. The study explores how parental self-employment, personality traits and having children affect gender-specific entrepreneurial outcomes. Using data from the DZHW Graduate Panel 2009 (n = 940), the study analyzes self-employment episodes through retrospective longitudinal data and applies linear probability models to identify influencing factors. Findings show that female graduates are more likely to exit self-employment than their male counterparts. For men, a self-employed father,This study investigates why some business ventures succeed as others fail and whether gender differences exist in entrepreneurial success (ES). It addresses a gap in international research by focusing on the survival of self-employment among university graduates - a group often overlooked in entrepreneurship studies, particularly regarding gender-specific factors. The analysis draws on Holland’s (1997) career choice model and Jovanovic’s (1979) job-matching theory to examine how sociodemographic and psychological characteristics influence business survival. The study explores how parental self-employment, personality traits and having children affect gender-specific entrepreneurial outcomes. Using data from the DZHW Graduate Panel 2009 (n = 940), the study analyzes self-employment episodes through retrospective longitudinal data and applies linear probability models to identify influencing factors. Findings show that female graduates are more likely to exit self-employment than their male counterparts. For men, a self-employed father, having children and a high willingness to take risks increase the likelihood of remaining in business. For women, having children, holding a bachelor’s degree and specific fields of study are positively associated with entrepreneurial success. The results reveal persistent gender differences in entrepreneurial survival among graduates, highlighting structural factors beyond personality and the need for targeted support policies.…


| Verfasserangaben: | Ulrike KöpkeORCiD |
|---|---|
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1142/S1084946725500189 |
| ISSN: | 1084-9467 |
| ISSN: | 1893-706X |
| Titel des übergeordneten Werkes (Englisch): | Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship : a publication devoted to issues concerning microenterprise development |
| Untertitel (Englisch): | Gender and entrepreneurship among german university graduates |
| Verlag: | World Scientific Publishing |
| Verlagsort: | Sigapur |
| Dokumentart: | Wissenschaftlicher Artikel |
| Sprache: | Englisch |
| Jahr der Erstveröffentlichung: | 2025 |
| Veröffentlichende Institution: | Fachhochschule Potsdam |
| Datum der Freischaltung: | 05.11.2025 |
| GND-Schlagwort: | Akademiker; Entrepreneurship; Fünffaktorenmodell der Persönlichkeit; Geschlecht |
| Jahrgang: | 30 |
| Ausgabe / Heft: | 3 |
| Fachbereiche und Zentrale Einrichtungen: | Hochschulleitung |
| DDC-Klassifikation: | 300 Sozialwissenschaften / 370 Bildung und Erziehung |
| 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften / 650 Management, Öffentlichkeitsarbeit | |
| Lizenz (Deutsch): |
