Political Reservations and Women's Entrepreneurship in India

61 Pages Posted: 24 Jan 2014

See all articles by Syed Ejaz Ghani

Syed Ejaz Ghani

World Bank

William Kerr

Harvard University - Entrepreneurial Management Unit

Stephen D. O'Connell

Emory University

Multiple version iconThere are 3 versions of this paper

Date Written: January 22, 2014

Abstract

We quantify the link between the timing of state-level implementations of political reservations for women in India with the role of women in India’s manufacturing sector. While overall employment of women in manufacturing does not increase after the reforms, we find significant evidence that more women-owned establishments were created in the unorganized/informal sector. These new establishments were concentrated in industries where women entrepreneurs have been traditionally active and the entry was mainly found among household-based establishments. We measure and discuss the extent to which this heightened entrepreneurship is due to channels like greater finance access or heightened inspiration for women entrepreneurs.

Keywords: Women, female, gender, entrepreneurship, political reservations, development, informal sector, India, South Asia.

JEL Classification: D22, E26, H11, J16, L10, L26, L60, M13, O10, R00, R10, R12.

Suggested Citation

Ghani, Ejaz and Kerr, William R. and O'Connell, Stephen D., Political Reservations and Women's Entrepreneurship in India (January 22, 2014). Harvard Business School Entrepreneurial Management Working Paper No. 14-056, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2383423 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2383423

Ejaz Ghani

World Bank ( email )

1818 H Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20433
United States

William R. Kerr (Contact Author)

Harvard University - Entrepreneurial Management Unit ( email )

Soldiers Field Road
Morgan 270C
Boston, MA 02163
United States

Stephen D. O'Connell

Emory University ( email )

1602 Fishburne Drive
Atlanta, GA 30322
United States

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