INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES, INCLUSIVE FINANCE AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN AFRICA: A GENDER-SPECIFIC PERSPECTIVE

Emmanuel Uche, Joseph C. Odionye, Nicholas Ngepah

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The potential for information and communication technologies (ICT) and inclusive finance to drive entrepreneurial activity in an African context remain unclear. We specifically consider effects on male versus female entrepreneurs. This study unveils new insights based on an annual panel series for 52 African countries from 2005-2019. The system-generalized method-of-moments (sysGMM) and the novel method-of-moments quantile regression (MM-QR) aided the analysis. The estimates of both procedures demonstrate that entrepreneurship in Africa is self-promoting. The sysGMM estimator demonstrates that financial inclusion produced unsubstantial effects on entrepreneurial activity. However, the estimates of the MM-QR produced varying significant positive relationships mostly at the upper quantiles for all entrepreneurs. The sysGMM reveals that ICT produced marginal positive effects for entrepreneurs in general but not for female entrepreneurs. Additionally, the MM-QR unveiled a significant positive influence of ICT at the lower and middle quantiles for aggregate levels of entrepreneurship. ICT produced significant positive effects at the lower quantiles for men, and at the upper quantiles for women. Policy options to promote entrepreneurship in the continent are highlighted.

Original languageEnglish
Article number2350025
JournalJournal of Developmental Entrepreneurship
Volume28
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2023
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Africa
  • Entrepreneurship
  • financial inclusion
  • information and communication technology
  • moment quantile regression

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Business and International Management
  • Economics and Econometrics
  • Strategy and Management

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