Moderating effect of gender on the opportunity recognition and entrepreneurial intention

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between opportunity recognition and entrepreneurial intention at the national level. It hypothesized that the gender equality, measured based on national perceptions of women as human resources, would moderate this relationship. The data of 15 countries from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) and the Gender Gap Index (GGI) of the World Economic Forum (WEF) were used for the analysis. The results showed that opportunity recognition affects entrepreneurial intention. The analysis also suggested that gender had a moderating effect on this relationship, although the size of the gender moderation effect was not directly related to the level of gender inequality in the sampled countries.