Gender dynamics in the choice of place of trade among young entrepreneurs in Ghana

Abstract

Entrepreneurship has been considered a viable strategy by the youth as a means to create jobs and improve upon their livelihoods and economic independence. Despite the upsurge of research in the a rea of gender entrepreneurship worldwide since the late 1970s, little exist concerning the determinants of the choice of place of trade vis-a-vis gender among young entrepreneurs. This study explores how gender interacts with other determinants to influence the decision of choosing a suitable place for trade among young entrepreneurs in Ghana using multinomial logistic regression techniques. The results show that, while controlling for gender roles, young female entrepreneurs relative to their male counterparts have increasing probability of trading from home than trading from an organized market, but are more likely to trade from an organized market other than from a formal business space. Also, young female entrepreneurs who have supervisory roles are more likely to trade from their homes other than trading from an organized market relative to their male counterparts. However, it emerged that young female entrepreneurs are more likely to trade from an organized market compared to trading from a formal business space or from other places. Other findings of the study reveal that, young females from high income households are more likely to trade from an organized market compared to trading on the street, from a formal business space or from other places different from the locations being studied. These findings have policy implications regarding the very key elements needed to foster the growth of entrepreneurship among both young males and females entrepreneurs in Ghana.