Exploring diversity amongst Canadian women entrepreneurs

This paper presents preliminary findings on the reasons why Canadian women start businesses, and the relationship between their motivations and economic success. The analysis draws on The Survey of Self-Employment, a nationally representative survey of 3,840 Canadians conducted in 2000 by Statistics Canada and Human Resources Development Canada. Drawing on existing studies which identify three broad groups of motivation—classic, work-family, and forced—the paper examines how prevalent these motivations are amongst Canadian women, and how motivations are linked to the types of businesses women build and the economic rewards they receive. The findings suggest diversity in the motivations and success of women entrepreneurs.

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