Women Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment: Evidence from Emerging Economies

Abstract

Women’s engagement in entrepreneurship has emerged as a significant driver of economic growth, innovation, employment generation, and social inclusion in emerging economies (Minniti & Naudé, 2010; Duflo, 2012). Over the past decade, women-led enterprises have gained increasing visibility across sectors; however, their growth potential continues to be constrained by persistent challenges such as limited access to finance, socio-cultural norms, digital exclusion, and institutional barriers. Drawing on secondary qualitative evidence from global entrepreneurship reports and selected case studies from emerging economies, this paper examines the relationship between women entrepreneurship and economic empowerment. The study synthesises existing empirical and policy-oriented literature to identify key constraints faced by women entrepreneurs and highlights enabling mechanisms that facilitate sustainable entrepreneurial growth. The findings suggest that supportive institutional frameworks, gender-sensitive financial systems, digital inclusion, and access to mentorship and networks are critical for strengthening women’s economic empowerment in emerging economies. The paper contributes to the literature by offering an integrative and comparative perspective that links entrepreneurship with empowerment outcomes in diverse emerging-economy contexts.