Preliminary Study of female entrepreneurship in emerging countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia: cases of Ghana and Thailand
Dramane Thiombiano and Ibrahim Alshakhatreh

Department of Business Administration

Abstract

This research aims to compare female entrepreneurship in emerging markets of Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. For this purpose, we will specifically look into female entrepreneurship in Thailand and Ghana, two countries well-known for their considerable number of female entrepreneurs. A study by Mastercard posited that Ghana is one the top performing African countries, with a percentage of 46.4% of women entrepreneurs. Another survey ranked Thailand, third in the promotion of female entrepreneurship. We will particularly investigate the push-pull drive of female entrepreneurs in these two countries. We will aim to identify the motivational factors that trigger women to start their own businesses. Appendant to this, we will also attempt to understand their social and demographic characteristics and the potential challenges and issues they may face in their entrepreneurship endeavor. This research will help to shed light on the phenomenon of female entrepreneurship in emerging markets in Africa and southeast Asia. Through an original survey of female entrepreneurs in Ghana and Thailand, the present research attempts to provide a profile of female entrepreneurs in Ghana and Thailand by understanding the similarities and discrepancies in terms of their motivations, demographic characteristics, and issues faced by Ghanaian and Thai female entrepreneurs. Belonging to the developing world, women entrepreneurs in Ghana and Thailand may share some common characteristics and problems, however apart from their geographical differences, there are important divergences in terms of motivations, characteristics, and problems encountered in their entrepreneurship endeavor.
Keywords:

Keywords: female entrepreneurship, Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, Ghana, Thailand

Topic: Business and Economic