Publication: Female-Owned Firms in Latin America : Characteristics, Performance, and Obstacles to Growth
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2009-11
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2014-09-02
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Abstract
This paper examines the characteristics and performance of female-owned firms in Latin America. Data from firm surveys show that female-owned firms tend to be smaller than male-owned firms in terms of employees, sales, costs, and physical capital. Female-owned firms also have lower profits than male-owned firms, but for larger firms this difference disappears after controlling for labor and capital inputs. Medium-size and large female-owned firms are as productive as male-owned firms of the same size, although micro and small female-owned firms are less productive than male-owned firms. There is no evidence that the differences between female and male-owned firms are due to differences in access to finance or regulatory burdens. However, this paper finds a negative correlation between child care and household obligations and female-owned firm size and performance.
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“Bruhn, Miriam. 2009. Female-Owned Firms in Latin America : Characteristics, Performance, and Obstacles to Growth. Policy Research Working Paper;No. 5122. © http://hdl.handle.net/10986/19961 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”
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