Call for Chapters Women’s Entrepreneurship Policy: A global perspective

Call for Chapters
Women’s Entrepreneurship Policy: A global perspective
Editors: Colette Henry, Susan Coleman, Kate Lewis & Lene Foss

Women entrepreneurs make a significant contribution to economic development globally (Henry et al., 2015; Elam et al., 2019). While the body of academic scholarship in the field of women’s entrepreneurship has expanded significantly in recent years, the specific issue of entrepreneurship policy in this context has not attracted concerted academic attention (Ahl & Nelson, 2015; Foss et al., 2018).

Scholars recognise that policy is a powerful component of the entrepreneurial ecosystem and, as such, is necessary for economic growth (Mazzarol, 2014; Stam, 2015). As Foss et al. (2018) highlight, policy is also a context-specific force, embedded in a country’s institutional framework. Accordingly, policy has considerable ability to influence entrepreneurial behaviour locally, regionally, nationally and globally (Welter and Smallbone, 2011); this is particularly the case for women’s entrepreneurship (Acs et al., 2011; Estrin & Mickiewicz, 2011).

Scholars also acknowledge that entrepreneurship policy development is not without its challenges. Policy makers must differentiate between entrepreneurship and small business policies; appreciate that policy initiatives offered in isolation are likely to be ineffective; and realise that when it comes to developing women’s entrepreneurship policy, ‘one size does not fit all’ (Mason & Brown, 2014).

Drawing on scholars from the Global WEP Research Project – a network of established scholars from over 30 counties, researching, critiquing and exchanging knowledge on women’s entrepreneurship policy – as well as the broader international community of entrepreneurship policy scholars – this edited book aims to address current gaps in policy scholarship by offering a collection of policy-related chapters on women’s entrepreneurship from around the globe. The book will provide insights into how entrepreneurship policy is constructed and operationalised in different countries; the extent to which entrepreneurship policy may or may not be gendered; the different geographical, political, institutional and cultural contexts for women’s entrepreneurship; challenges faced by policy makers, and examples of effective policy solutions in practice.

Recommended topics

Our call for papers has been designed with a deliberately wide lens to enable us to capture the diversity of policy concepts, perspectives and practices on this topic. Given its broad appeal, we expect this book to be of particular interest to the international community of entrepreneurship policy scholars, and specifically those focusing on women’s entrepreneurship. Accordingly, we invite conceptual and empirical contributions that address the issue of women’s entrepreneurship policy regionally, nationally or internationally, and from a range of perspectives/theoretical lenses. We welcome chapters that enhance our understanding of policy as it relates to women entrepreneurs, or highlight the gendered nature of entrepreneurship policy in specific geographical contexts. Given the recent Covid-19 crisis, chapters that critique national policy responses to the pandemic as they relate to women’s entrepreneurship will be particularly welcome. Chapters should offer an appropriate fit with the following key sections of the book:

Women’s entrepreneurship policy in different country contexts

We invite chapters that seek to:

explore and critique women’s entrepreneurship policy in a particular country or geographical region
explore, critique and compare women’s entrepreneurship policy in multiple regions or in multiple countries
compare policies in developing and underdeveloped country contexts
develop practice-based policy tools at regional, state and global level for specific countries or groups of countries

Research on women’s entrepreneurship policy

We invite chapters that seek to:

explore the various contemporary theories underpinning women’s entrepreneurship policy
present a systematic literature review of research related to policy on women’s entrepreneurship
explore novel methodologies in women’s entrepreneurship policy research
(re-)conceptualise women’s entrepreneurship policy
critique contemporary theories and offer novel theoretical contributions to help move the field forward
carve out an ambitious future research agenda based on eclectic perspectives for the field
use the framework of responsible research and innovation to develop policy instruments that measure developed and underdeveloped countries in a fair way.

The above list of topics is not exhaustive, and we welcome proposals for other areas that offer an appropriate fit with the book.

Please note that all chapters will be peer reviewed.

Important Dates

Submission of chapter proposals (500 words approx.) outlining the aim/main rationale, research questions, methodology and expected results by 31st August 2020
Notification of accepted book chapter proposal by 30^th September 2020
First draft of chapter (5000 – 6000 words + references) due by 31^st December 2020
Chapter authors receive reviews with feedback by 1st March 2021
Final revised chapter for publication due by 1^st May 2021