The role of government in promoting female entrepreneurship: A case study of the United States

Since the mid-1990s, governments worldwide have recognized the socio-economic benefits of female entrepreneurship and have acknowledged the need to encourage women-owned businesses. In addition, there is evidence that government can help eliminate the well-documented barriers to female entrepreneurship. As a result, identifying and implementing government policies that encourage women-owned businesses has become an important policy priority in both industrialized and industrializing countries. This is particularly apparent in the United States where aggressive policy reforms and new initiatives have been implemented to foster female entrepreneurship since the 1970s. This study seeks to expand knowledge about the role of government in promoting female entrepreneurship. It examines federal policy aimed at encouraging women-owned businesses in the United States as a case study. The analysis ultimately identifies lessons from the American government policy experience that can have applications elsewhere.