Institutional context and female entrepreneurship: A country-based comparison using fsQCA

Female entrepreneurship (FENT) has drawn substantial attention from scholars and policymakers, given its economic and social importance. Although studies have examined possible institutional conditions that affect FENT, most studies have considered the impact of institutions in isolation, neglecting their interdependence. Based on the institutional theory, this study proposes an integrative framework to explore the configurational effect of multiple institutions on FENT and growth expectation among female entrepreneurs (FEGE) using the fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis. Data analyses spanning 49 economies show that both high FENT and FEGE are generated by configuration of institutions. Specifically, there is one recipe for bringing about high FENT and three for high FEGE. Moreover, entrepreneurial cognitions play a decisive role in promoting FENT, while entrepreneurial culture is crucial in generating high FEGE. The findings provide beneficial policy implications for the allocation of resources to promote female entrepreneurial activities.