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Sociocultural Factors and Female Entrepreneurship in the Innovative Service Sector in Catalonia: A Qualitative Analysis

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Cooperation, Clusters, and Knowledge Transfer

Part of the book series: Advances in Spatial Science ((ADVSPATIAL))

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to analyse the main sociocultural factors and their impact on female entrepreneurship in the innovative service sector in Catalonia (Spain) and to establish differences to male initiatives using the institutional approach as a theoretical framework. Based on a comparative case study, the principal findings suggest that social networks, role models, entrepreneurial attitudes and family context are important determinants of female entrepreneurship. Family context is, in particular, a crucial factor, which might have a larger impact on women than men. The research contributes both theoretically, with the creation of knowledge in less researched areas such as female entrepreneurship in Spain, and practically, through the development of sustainable support policies for female entrepreneurial activity.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    INE (2012).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Maria Noguera

  2. University of Medellin, Medellin, Colombia and Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

    Claudia Alvarez

  3. University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain

    Domingo Ribeiro

  4. Department of Business Economics Building B, Autonomous University of Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra(Barcelona), Spain

    David Urbano

Authors
  1. Maria Noguera
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  2. Claudia Alvarez
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  3. Domingo Ribeiro
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  4. David Urbano
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Correspondence to David Urbano .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Management and Economics, University of Beira interior, Estrada do Sineiro, pólo IV, Covilhã, 6200-209, Portugal

    João J.M. Ferreira

  2. , Management and Economics, University of Beira Interior, Estrada do Sineiro, pólo IV, Covilhã, 6200-209, Portugal

    Mário Raposo

  3. , School of Social & Behavioural Sciences, Tilburg University, Warandelaan 2, Tilburg, 5037 AB, Netherlands

    Roel Rutten

  4. , Economics and Regional Studies, University of Pécs, Rákóczi 80, Pécs, 7622, Hungary

    Attila Varga

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Noguera, M., Alvarez, C., Ribeiro, D., Urbano, D. (2013). Sociocultural Factors and Female Entrepreneurship in the Innovative Service Sector in Catalonia: A Qualitative Analysis. In: Ferreira, J., Raposo, M., Rutten, R., Varga, A. (eds) Cooperation, Clusters, and Knowledge Transfer. Advances in Spatial Science. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-33194-7_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-33194-7_8

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