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Journals / Fiscaoeconomia / 2026 / Volume: 10 Issue: 3

Parental Leave Policies and Gender Inequality in Entrepreneurship: A Cross-National Analysis of Work–Family Policies and Gendered Entrepreneurship

“Doğum İzni” Politikaları ve Girişimcilikte Cinsiyet Eşitsizliği: İş-Aile Politikaları ve Toplumsal Cinsiyet Temelli Girişimcilik Üzerine Ülkelerarası Bir Analiz

Tutku Seçkin(İSTANBUL MEDENİYET ÜNİVERSİTESİ, SİYASAL BİLGİLER FAKÜLTESİ)0000-0002-8265-5259
Pages
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Publication Date
2026-10-06
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The findings indicate that childcare enrollment rates for children aged 0-2 are the most consistent correlate of the entrepreneurial gender gap, although this association does not reach conventional significance thresholds in every multivariate model.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:This study critically examines how parenting leave policies shape gender inequality in entrepreneurship across the 29 OECD and EU countries in the sample.
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Key Findings & Data:Drawing on institutional theory and feminist entrepreneurship literature, the paper develops a theoretical framework linking work-family policies, specifically maternity leave, paternity leave duration, payment rates, and childcare facilities, to the gender gap in Total Early-Stage Entrepreneurial Activity (TEA).
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Conclusion & Impact:The findings indicate that childcare enrollment rates for children aged 0-2 are the most consistent correlate of the entrepreneurial gender gap, although this association does not reach conventional significance thresholds in every multivariate model.
🔬Design:Modeling & Simulation
📍Scope:29 sample
⚙️Variables:Gendered Entrepreneurship · Parental Leave Policies · Gender Inequality

Abstract

This study critically examines how parenting leave policies shape gender inequality in entrepreneurship across the 29 OECD and EU countries in the sample. Drawing on institutional theory and feminist entrepreneurship literature, the paper develops a theoretical framework linking work-family policies, specifically maternity leave, paternity leave duration, payment rates, and childcare facilities, to the gender gap in Total Early-Stage Entrepreneurial Activity (TEA). Using a cross-country analysis of 29 nations that combines data from the OECD Family Database, World Bank indicators, and the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), the research investigates whether supportive work-family institutions are associated with lower necessity-driven female entrepreneurship and greater opportunity-driven venturing. The findings indicate that childcare enrollment rates for children aged 0-2 are the most consistent correlate of the entrepreneurial gender gap, although this association does not reach conventional significance thresholds in every multivariate model. The duration of paternity leave shows no significant association with this gap in any model. Furthermore, Türkiye stands out among the 29 sampled countries with the highest gender gap (10.77 percentage points), alongside the lowest childcare enrollment (0.7%) and female labor force participation (35.8%). The Turkish case offers a descriptive illustration of how inadequate early childcare infrastructure, substantial unpaid care burdens, and entrenched traditional gender norms may jointly contribute to persistent structural gender inequalities in entrepreneurial engagement.

Özet

Bu çalışma, ebeveynlik izni politikalarının (Türkiye’de yaygın olarak kullanılan adıyla “doğum izni” politikalarının) araştırma örneklemindeki 29 OECD ve AB ülkesi genelinde girişimcilikte cinsiyet eşitsizliğini nasıl şekillendirdiğini incelemektedir. Bu makalede, kurumsal teori ve feminist girişimcilik literatüründen hareketle, iş-aile politikaları -doğum izni süresi, babalık izni, ödeme oranları ve çocuk bakımı imkanları- ile Toplam Erken Aşama Girişimcilik Faaliyeti (TEA) cinsiyetler arası farkı arasındaki ilişkiyi açıklayan teorik bir çerçeve geliştirilmiştir. OECD Aile Veritabanı ve Dünya Bankası göstergeleri ile Global Girişimcilik Monitörü (GEM) verilerini birleştirerek 29 ülke üzerinde yürütülen ülkelerarası analizde, destekleyici iş-aile kurumlarının zorunluluk kaynaklı kadın girişimciliğini azaltıp azaltmadığı ve fırsat odaklı girişimleri kolaylaştırıp kolaylaştırmadığı araştırılmaktadır. Bulgularımız, 0-2 yaş grubu için çocuk bakımı kayıt oranının girişimcilikteki cinsiyet eşitsizliğiyle en tutarlı biçimde ilişkili değişken olduğunu; ancak bu ilişkinin çoklu regresyon modelinde geleneksel anlamlılık eşiğine her zaman ulaşmadığını ortaya koymaktadır. Babalık izni süresinin ise hiçbir model kurgusunda anlamlı bir etkisi bulunmamıştır. Türkiye, örneklemdeki 29 ülke arasında en yüksek cinsiyet eşitsizliğiyle (10,77 yüzde puanı) birlikte en düşük çocuk bakımı kayıt oranına (%0,7) ve en düşük kadın işgücüne katılım oranına (%35,8) sahip, dikkat çekici bir uç durum sergilemektedir. Türkiye vakası; yetersiz çocuk bakımı altyapısı, kadınların ağır ücretsiz bakım yükleri ve geleneksel toplumsal cinsiyet normlarının bir arada nasıl kalıcı cinsiyet eşitsizliklerine yol açabileceğini betimsel biçimde ortaya koymaktadır.

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Cite This Article

Seçkin, T. (2026). Parental Leave Policies and Gender Inequality in Entrepreneurship: A Cross-National Analysis of Work–Family Policies and Gendered Entrepreneurship. Fiscaoeconomia, Volume: 10 Issue: 3. https://doi.org/10.25295/fsecon.1895196

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