This dissertation, in the standard three-essay format, studies three distinct but closely related aspects of the United States labor markets. Chapter 1 attempts to identify the main drivers of potential migration to the United States by using administrative data from the United States Diversity Visa Lottery. Estimating fixed effects panel data models that control for time-invariant unobserved heterogeneity in source-country level determinants of potential migration, I find that income levels in source countries and educational attainment of the source-country population play important role in determining migration intentions. Specifically, a one percent increase in per capita Gross Domestic Product of a source country decreases the potential migration rate from that country to the US by 1.36%. Similarly, a one percent increase in the educational attainment of source population (measured as the percentage of population with at least secondary education) decreases potential migration rate by 1.16%. The results obtained in this chapter improve our understanding of the composition of US labor markets by identifying the most important socio-economic variables that drive migration to the US. Chapter 2 estimates the causal impact of a change in supply of immigrant entrepreneurs on entrepreneurial propensities of natives. I draw data from the Annual Social and Economic Supplement of the Current Population Survey and use withinstate variation in supply of immigrant entrepreneurs for identification. To address concerns of endogeneity in the supply of immigrant entrepreneurs, I take advantage of a quasi-experiment provided by the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. I find that, on average, immigrants self-employed in unincorporated businesses have no discernible impact on self-employment propensities of natives. However, immigrants self-employed in incorporated businesses crowd in natives into incorporated self-employment. Specifically, a 1% increase in incorporated immigrant entrepreneurs increases the supply of incorporated native entrepreneurs by 0.11%. Furthermore, various sub-sample analyses demonstrate substantial heterogeneity in the impact of immigrant entrepreneurs on entrepreneurial propensities of natives. The results obtained in this chapter have important implications for policies related to immigration and entrepreneurship development. Finally, Chapter 3 exploits the State Children’s Health Insurance Program to investigate the impact of publicly funded health insurance coverage for children on labor supply of adults. Using data from the Annual Social and Economic Supplement of the Current Population Survey and triple difference identification strategy, the analysis demonstrates that public health insurance for children decreases labor supply of women, both at the extensive and the intensive margin, but increases that of men at the extensive margin. The estimates obtained in this chapter highlight the labor supply distortions associated with welfare benefits. / Economics

Throughout the last fifty years, scholars have explained franchising primarily through two limited means: agency theory and resource constraints theory. This paper investigates the proportions of company owned stores vs franchisee owned stores. Hypotheses are presented about the proportions of franchisee owned outlets among all industries and then among eight of the largest franchised industries within the US. The findings generally support that most firms use a mixed-method approach when determining their franchising mix but rely mostly on agency theory for most of that mix. The study also finds that the initial investment/asset requirement is the key mechanism to controlling the appropriate franchise proportions. / Business Administration/Interdisciplinary

Yes / Research on business growth has blossomed, yet scholars often complain face the difficulty of distililing a clearer pitcure of the business growth phenomenon. This paper attempts to overcome this limitation by reviewing and synthesizing extant research on business growth. First, we begin by examining Penrose’s view of firm growth. Second, we highlight how business growth is measured; these are absolute or relative change and growth as a process. Third, we explore theories of business growth; integrated models-theories that explain the factors that drive business growth and (2) stage models which view business growth as a series of phases or stages of development through which a firm must pass in its life-cycle. Fourth, we examine modes of business growth; these are organic vs. acquisition growth, growth through networks and alliances and growth through internationalization. Fifth, we examine drivers and constraints to business growth. We conclude the review by pointing out areas of harmony and contention in the literature, from which we suggest opportunities for future research.

Tile research focuses on the role played by the school in preraring learners for self-employment. It seeks to establish the extent to which entrepreneurial knowledge, skills and attitudes are being promoted ai school thus equipping learners for ihe world of business once they leave school. The study is undertaken ag~i the background of very high mte of unemployment currently facing South Africa. A nmnber of factors, such as high population growth, globalisation and a variety of other socio-political circlUllStance have resulted in the shrinkage of job opportunities in the formal sector of the economy. The unemployment problem mostly affects the rural schoolleavers, among other groups, in the community. Small bu.'$ine.<Js development is generally seen as the most promising solution to the unemployment problem. Preparing learners for entrepreneurship is therefore the most serious challenge facing schools today. The school is required to deliver the kind of education that will make it possible for learners to start and develop their own businesses once they leave school. Hence the quest for education that is relevant to the needs and aspirations of society. A qualitative study undertaken with rural schoolleavers who own small businesses reveals that the school has not yet taken delibemte steps to tester entrepreneurship among learners thus preparing them for self-employment when they leave school. Again it bas been demonstrated that schools have great potential to inculcate entrepreneurial knowledge, attitudes and skills once they can start working in close co-operation with the community. A shift from traditional approaches to teaching and learning to the progressive (entrepreneurial) approaches can contribute greatly in producing learners who are ready fbr life as independent, creative and influencial business leaders of the future. / Educational Studies / D.Ed. (Comparative Education)

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Entrepreneurship potentially offers to make a contribution to some of South Africa's most crucial problems for instance poverty and an extremely high youth unemployment rate. Furthermore it empowers people not to wait for others or external factors to change their destiny, but to become pro-active. Literature indicates that there is internationally a renewed interest in entrepreneurship (as demonstrated in research and the number of tertiary institutions offering entrepreneurship education), with a resulting sophisticated body of knowledge becoming available. In South Africa limited success was reported on the renewed emphasis on entrepreneurship. Although the proportion of entrepreneurs in the country compares favourably to international figures, the proportion of necessity entrepreneurs (people who start businesses as a result of the absence of other options) is considerably lower than that of other developing countries and the success rate of businesses is below the international average. Entrepreneurs often do not have the business skills needed to identify business opportunities and manage a business. In the development of business attitudes, knowledge and skills formal education received extensive attention, but informal education may play a more important role to build positive attitudes, while practical experience is also essential to skills development. The economic future of South Africa will be closely linked to the emerging generation of entrepreneurs. The research indicated that they are willing to take on the challenges, but need help with developing the necessary knowledge and skills. Special measures should be taken to include people from previously disadvantaged population groups, women and rural areas in skills development programmes. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Entrepreneurskap kan 'n beduidende bydrae lewer om ernstige probleme in die Suid- Afrikaanse samelewing soos armoede en die hoë werkloosheidsyfer onder die jeug te help verbeter. Dit kan ook help om mense te motiveer om self iets aan hulle situasie te probeer doen. Die literatuurstudie het getoon dat daar 'n internasionale golf van belangstelling in entrepreneurskap is. Meer en meer bestuurskole sluit dit in by die vakke wat hulle aanbied en daar is 'n sterk toename in navorsing oor entrepeneurskap. Suid-Afrika is deel van hierdie nuwe golf, maar het nog heelwat uitdagings op hierdie gebied. Die persentasie plaaslike entrepreneurs vergelyk goed met internasionale syfers, maar die aantal mense wat deur nood gedwing word om hulle tot entrepeneurskap te wend, is laer as die gemiddelde persentasie van ontwikkelende lande waarvan die statistiek bekend is. Dit wil ook voorkom asof die persentasie van besighede wat nie in die langtermyn suksesvol is nie, hoër is as die internasionale syfer. 'n Groot persentasie van die sakelui beskik nie oor die vaardighede om sake-geleenthede raak te sien en besighede te bestuur nie. Opleidingsgeleenthede moet nie net fokus op formele opleiding nie, maar moet informele opleiding en geleenthede vir praktiese ervaring insluit. Op ekonomiese gebied gaan die nuwe geslag entrepreneurs 'n beduidende rol speel in Suid-Afrika se toekoms. Die onderhewige navorsing het getoon dat hierdie groep mense gretig is om hierdie uitdagings te aanvaar, maar hulp nodig het om hulle daarvoor toe te rus. Dit is van wesenlike belang dat alle groepe ingesluit moet word in hierdie toerusting, veral groepe wat op die oomblik nog gemarginaliseerd is soos bruin en swart bevolkingsgroepe, vroue en mense van plattelandse gebiede.

Over the last twenty years female entrepreneurs have been increasing in numbers in economies of developing and developed nations across the world. But although female entrepreneurship participation rates have increased worldwide, it appears that economic and socio cultural patterns still prescribe whether a female can become or want to become an entrepreneur in her society. Some reasons are obvious such as lack of employment and opportunities; other are disguised in patriarchal culture that deters female entrepreneurship. Against this backdrop it appears that in less developed countries necessity and informal entrepreneurship are more prevalent than opportunity entrepreneurship. An explanation from economic nature for this phenomenon is perhaps the fact that with less job opportunities available in developing nations, the ‘need’ to become an entrepreneur seems to be the answer for females to make a living by creating their own jobs. At the socio cultural level, the motivation to become an entrepreneur out of need surfaces because of the socio cultural structure of certain nations that hinder females from finding work that brings them independence, self actualization and flexibility for work-life balance. This qualitative exploratory study investigates the phenomenon of female entrepreneurship comparing female entrepreneurship in two contexts: Brazil and the United States. The economic differences on a macro level between these two countries have been well documented and national socio cultural differences have been discussed. But very little has been focused at the individual level of the female entrepreneur per se, that is, how they perceive and experience the economic and the social cultural macro environment with their businesses. This research attempts to fill this gap. This was done by first reviewing the literature and then by analysing the responses from face to face and telephone interviews with 34 female entrepreneurs in Brazil and 26 in the United States. The findings indicated that female entrepreneurs in Brazil and the United States share similarities in motivation for starting the business in terms of pull factors, such as search for financial independence, want to be one’s own boss, need for autonomy, and self actualization. The women from both groups also identified customer satisfaction and recognition from society as key elements for their business success. But business informality was a phenomenon only found among the Brazilian enterprises (the informais) a factor found to be directly related to economic necessity and the scarcity of waged jobs and opportunities. The perception of gender barriers was shared by both groups of entrepreneurs but other factors such as religion and the importance of faith to succeed in business were emphasized only by the Americans. Higher education was perceived by both groups as an instrument to gain recognition from society, but not important to grow their businesses; vocational training was perceived as more important. Networking was perceived as important, but different patterns of networking emerged among the Brazilians and the Americans. Definitions of success also differ among the women independent from their nationality. Some were more inclined to define success in financial terms, others simply define success in terms of flexibility and the ‘got to be in control’ syndrome. This research contributed to an increased understanding of the processes of female entrepreneurship as it related to how economic and socio cultural forces influence these processes. The findings indicated that the female entrepreneurship process becomes a combination of two processes: a person driven process and a response to environment process. Mentoring and coaching programs that assist women finding their path to entrepreneurship along with their own passions should be emphasized by local agencies. Although policy development was not the specific objective of this study, a number of issues have arisen that have implications both for future research and female entrepreneurship policies. For instance, in Brazil, higher taxes and the high cost of starting a business were perceived by the women as barriers to their businesses. It is suggested that Brazilian authorities and legislators continue with their efforts to streamline the business start process by introducing innovative and cost effective ways to formalize a business.

Thesis (M. Com. (Business Management)) -- University of Limpopo, 2013 / The purpose of the study was to assess the general enterprising qualities such as the need for achievement, need for autonomy, creative tendency, calculated risk taking and drive and determination amongst learners at selected secondary schools in the Capricorn District Municipality of Limpopo Province. The intention was to suggest strategies to be used to enhance entrepreneurial qualities and to develop these learners to become successful entrepreneurs in future. Commercial and non-commercial learners participated in the study. Data were collected from 1931 respondents constituting 31% of the population. The findings revealed that the majority of learners did not possess entrepreneurial qualities. Among others, the following recommendations were offered: • Schools should teach learners to put theory into practice by offering a learner’s mini business program within their curriculum. • Career guidance programmes should be improved and commence at grade eight and continue to grade twelve. Key concepts: entrepreneurship, entrepreneur and entrepreneurship education.

<p>Problemdiskussion: Entreprenörskap slår kraftigt in i det svenska utbildningssystemet. Merparten av svenska universitet och högskolor har sedan flera år tillbaka både kurser och program inom inriktningen entreprenörskap. En rapport från Global Entrepreneurship Monitor visar att under 2005 var den entreprenöriella aktiviteten låg i Sverige. Däremot har det visat sig att ungas intresse för företagande har ökat under 2005. Denna ökning avser dock inte högutbildade studenter, däribland entreprenörskapsstudenter. En undersökning av högutbildade studenter visar att studenten efter avslutade studier helst vill ha en anställning framför företagandet.</p><p>Problemformulering: Vilka är de bakomliggande faktorerna till att entreprenörskapsstudenter inte väljer att starta eget företag efter sin examen?</p><p>Syfte: att analysera entreprenörskapsstudenters entreprenöriella benägenhet.</p><p>Teori: Det finns olika förklaringar till varför vissa individer tenderar att bli entreprenörer. Däremot har ingen enhetlig entreprenörskapsprofil kunnat fastställas. Vad forskare är eniga om är att den entreprenöriella benägenheten påverkas av etnisk bakgrund, ålder, uppväxt/familjebakgrund, utbildning och erfarenhet samt riskbenägenhet vilket är uppsatsens teoretiska referensram.</p><p>Metod: Datainsamlingsmetoden som använts är postenkäter via e-mail där två enkäter har skickats ut till studenter som studerat på Entreprenörskapsprogrammet på Södertörns högskola. Den första enkäten skickades ut till de 56 studenter som tillhör den första urvalsgruppen. Den andra enkäten skickades ut till de 16 respondenter som valts ut subjektivt från den första urvalsgruppen. Syftet med Enkät 1 var att få kvantitativ kunskap om respondenternas sysselsättning för att vidare kunna särskilja de med eget företag och de med anställning och på så vis genomföra Enkät 2. Enkät 2 genomfördes med syfte att erhålla kvalitativ data om variablerna som återfinns i den teoretiska referensramen: etnicitet, ålder, uppväxt och familjebakgrund, utbildning och erfarenhet samt riskbenägenhet.</p><p>Resultat: Ett mönster kan urskiljas gällande den entreprenöriella benägenheten beroende på om respondenten har en anställning eller är egenföretagare. Den entreprenöriella benägenheten hos egenföretagarna är stor medan det varierar för de med anställning. Dessa kan delas upp i två olika grupper, där den ena gruppen och som i framtiden vill starta eget företag har högre entreprenöriell benägenhet än de som har en anställning och som inte vill starta eget företag.</p><p>Slutsatser: Uppsatsen talar för att entreprenörskapsstudenter inte väljer att starta eget företag efter avslutade studier i den utsträckning som önskas på grund av viss avsaknad av den entreprenöriella benägenheten. Dock har det visat sig att endast vissa delar av teorin om entreprenöriell benägenhet är bakomliggande faktorer till varför entreprenörskapsstudenter inte väljer att starta eget företag efter avslutade studier. Det tyder på att de bakomliggande faktorerna till varför entreprenörskapsstudenter inte väljer att starta eget företag efter avslutade studier är åldern, utbildning och erfarenhet samt riskbenägenhet. Åldern, utbildning och erfarenhet samt riskbenägenhet är relaterade till varandra. Utbildningen är inte tillräcklig vilket förklarar varför entreprenörskapsstudenter vill få större erfarenhet innan företagsetablering vilket förklarar varför riskbenägenheten är liten. Detta kan även relateras till åldern där större erfarenhet ökar chanserna till företagsetablering vilket ökar riskbenägenheten.</p> / <p>Problem description: Entrepreneurship is an important factor in the Swedish education system. Most of the Swedish universities and other high school educations have, since a number of years, courses and programs within the area of entrepreneurship. A report from Global Entrepreneurship Monitor shows a low activity of entrepreneurship in Sweden during 2005. In spite of that, there is a study showing an increasing interest for free enterprising during 2005 among younger persons. However, this case is not referring to high educated students including Entrepreneurship students. A study of high educated students shows a preference for employment rather than free enterprising after graduation.</p><p>Problem formulation: What are the underlying factors that makes the students of Entrepreneurship deicide not to start private enterprises after graduation?</p><p>Purpose: To analyse the inclination of Entrepreneurship students to start free enterprises.</p><p>Theory: There are different explanations to why certain individuals become entrepreneurs, but no general profile has yet been established. What Scientists do agree on is that the capability of entrepreneurship depends on: ethnical background, age, upbringing/family background, education, experiences and the tendency for risk taking, this is the theoretical reference for this report.</p><p>Method: The collection of data has been performed through questionnaires sent by e-mail. Two types of questionnaires have been sent to previous students from the Entrepreneurship Program at Södertörns Högskola. Questionnarie number one was sent to 56 former students selected for the original group. The second questionnaire was sent to 16 of the respondents randomly selected from the first group. The purpose of questionnaire number one was to receive a quantitative knowledge about the professional occupation of the respondents, to be able to separate those running a company of their own from those employed. The result of the first questionnaire was the base of the second questionnaire. The purpose of questionnaire number two was to collect qualitative data about the variables in the theory references above: ethnical background, age, upbringing/family background, education, experiences and the tendency for risk taking.</p><p>Result: There is a pattern showing the capability of entrepreneurship depending if the respondents are employed or running a company of their own. Those running a company are usually very competent in entrepreneurship while the compentence varies amongst those employed. These respondents can be devided into two groups where the group who wants to start a company in the future have a higher capability of entrepreneurship that those employed with no wish to start a company of their own.</p><p>Conclusions: The conclusion of this report is that fewer of the Entrepreneurship students than expected choose to start a company of their own after graduation. The reason for this is lack of capability in entrepreneurship. The study shows that only some of the references of the theory about entrepreneur capability are the reason why students from entrepreneurship studies don’t start their own companies after graduation. The reasons why entrepreneurship students don’t choose to start their own businesses after graduation seems to be related to age, education, experience and tendencies of risk taking. All these criterias are related. The education is not relevant enough and that is an explanation why the entrepreneurship students wants to get more experience before they start a company and this is also an explanation why the tendency of risk taking is low. There is also a relation to age since a longer experience will increase the chance for a successful free enterprise and also increases the tendency to take risks.</p>

Problemdiskussion: Entreprenörskap slår kraftigt in i det svenska utbildningssystemet. Merparten av svenska universitet och högskolor har sedan flera år tillbaka både kurser och program inom inriktningen entreprenörskap. En rapport från Global Entrepreneurship Monitor visar att under 2005 var den entreprenöriella aktiviteten låg i Sverige. Däremot har det visat sig att ungas intresse för företagande har ökat under 2005. Denna ökning avser dock inte högutbildade studenter, däribland entreprenörskapsstudenter. En undersökning av högutbildade studenter visar att studenten efter avslutade studier helst vill ha en anställning framför företagandet. Problemformulering: Vilka är de bakomliggande faktorerna till att entreprenörskapsstudenter inte väljer att starta eget företag efter sin examen? Syfte: att analysera entreprenörskapsstudenters entreprenöriella benägenhet. Teori: Det finns olika förklaringar till varför vissa individer tenderar att bli entreprenörer. Däremot har ingen enhetlig entreprenörskapsprofil kunnat fastställas. Vad forskare är eniga om är att den entreprenöriella benägenheten påverkas av etnisk bakgrund, ålder, uppväxt/familjebakgrund, utbildning och erfarenhet samt riskbenägenhet vilket är uppsatsens teoretiska referensram. Metod: Datainsamlingsmetoden som använts är postenkäter via e-mail där två enkäter har skickats ut till studenter som studerat på Entreprenörskapsprogrammet på Södertörns högskola. Den första enkäten skickades ut till de 56 studenter som tillhör den första urvalsgruppen. Den andra enkäten skickades ut till de 16 respondenter som valts ut subjektivt från den första urvalsgruppen. Syftet med Enkät 1 var att få kvantitativ kunskap om respondenternas sysselsättning för att vidare kunna särskilja de med eget företag och de med anställning och på så vis genomföra Enkät 2. Enkät 2 genomfördes med syfte att erhålla kvalitativ data om variablerna som återfinns i den teoretiska referensramen: etnicitet, ålder, uppväxt och familjebakgrund, utbildning och erfarenhet samt riskbenägenhet. Resultat: Ett mönster kan urskiljas gällande den entreprenöriella benägenheten beroende på om respondenten har en anställning eller är egenföretagare. Den entreprenöriella benägenheten hos egenföretagarna är stor medan det varierar för de med anställning. Dessa kan delas upp i två olika grupper, där den ena gruppen och som i framtiden vill starta eget företag har högre entreprenöriell benägenhet än de som har en anställning och som inte vill starta eget företag. Slutsatser: Uppsatsen talar för att entreprenörskapsstudenter inte väljer att starta eget företag efter avslutade studier i den utsträckning som önskas på grund av viss avsaknad av den entreprenöriella benägenheten. Dock har det visat sig att endast vissa delar av teorin om entreprenöriell benägenhet är bakomliggande faktorer till varför entreprenörskapsstudenter inte väljer att starta eget företag efter avslutade studier. Det tyder på att de bakomliggande faktorerna till varför entreprenörskapsstudenter inte väljer att starta eget företag efter avslutade studier är åldern, utbildning och erfarenhet samt riskbenägenhet. Åldern, utbildning och erfarenhet samt riskbenägenhet är relaterade till varandra. Utbildningen är inte tillräcklig vilket förklarar varför entreprenörskapsstudenter vill få större erfarenhet innan företagsetablering vilket förklarar varför riskbenägenheten är liten. Detta kan även relateras till åldern där större erfarenhet ökar chanserna till företagsetablering vilket ökar riskbenägenheten. / Problem description: Entrepreneurship is an important factor in the Swedish education system. Most of the Swedish universities and other high school educations have, since a number of years, courses and programs within the area of entrepreneurship. A report from Global Entrepreneurship Monitor shows a low activity of entrepreneurship in Sweden during 2005. In spite of that, there is a study showing an increasing interest for free enterprising during 2005 among younger persons. However, this case is not referring to high educated students including Entrepreneurship students. A study of high educated students shows a preference for employment rather than free enterprising after graduation. Problem formulation: What are the underlying factors that makes the students of Entrepreneurship deicide not to start private enterprises after graduation? Purpose: To analyse the inclination of Entrepreneurship students to start free enterprises. Theory: There are different explanations to why certain individuals become entrepreneurs, but no general profile has yet been established. What Scientists do agree on is that the capability of entrepreneurship depends on: ethnical background, age, upbringing/family background, education, experiences and the tendency for risk taking, this is the theoretical reference for this report. Method: The collection of data has been performed through questionnaires sent by e-mail. Two types of questionnaires have been sent to previous students from the Entrepreneurship Program at Södertörns Högskola. Questionnarie number one was sent to 56 former students selected for the original group. The second questionnaire was sent to 16 of the respondents randomly selected from the first group. The purpose of questionnaire number one was to receive a quantitative knowledge about the professional occupation of the respondents, to be able to separate those running a company of their own from those employed. The result of the first questionnaire was the base of the second questionnaire. The purpose of questionnaire number two was to collect qualitative data about the variables in the theory references above: ethnical background, age, upbringing/family background, education, experiences and the tendency for risk taking. Result: There is a pattern showing the capability of entrepreneurship depending if the respondents are employed or running a company of their own. Those running a company are usually very competent in entrepreneurship while the compentence varies amongst those employed. These respondents can be devided into two groups where the group who wants to start a company in the future have a higher capability of entrepreneurship that those employed with no wish to start a company of their own. Conclusions: The conclusion of this report is that fewer of the Entrepreneurship students than expected choose to start a company of their own after graduation. The reason for this is lack of capability in entrepreneurship. The study shows that only some of the references of the theory about entrepreneur capability are the reason why students from entrepreneurship studies don’t start their own companies after graduation. The reasons why entrepreneurship students don’t choose to start their own businesses after graduation seems to be related to age, education, experience and tendencies of risk taking. All these criterias are related. The education is not relevant enough and that is an explanation why the entrepreneurship students wants to get more experience before they start a company and this is also an explanation why the tendency of risk taking is low. There is also a relation to age since a longer experience will increase the chance for a successful free enterprise and also increases the tendency to take risks.

¡§Half of the world¡¦s population is female;¡¨ ¡§Educating a man means educating an individual however, educating a woman equals educating the whole nation.¡¨ These common sayings underscore the critical roles women play in society. In sub-Saharan Africa, women are known to play crucial roles in difficult times such as wars and natural disasters. In economic crises, when children are at risk of malnourishment and many men lose their main sources of income, they tend to turn towards their wives and/or mothers for support. Therefore, the empowerment of women - by giving them the opportunity to start a business - goes beyond the intrinsic value this has for the women themselves. Such empowerment may have profound impacts on families, communities, and national economies. The aim of this research is to study female entrepreneurship in sub-Saharan Africa with a focus on Burkina Faso, which is a region of the world where female entrepreneurship has been increasing in recent years. Traditionally a male-dominated area with narrowly prescribed gender roles, entrepreneurship is becoming the domain of choice for an increasing number of women. What are the deep motivations of these women? What are their social and demographic characteristics? What are the main issues they are facing? The empirical study was conducted on a sample of 45 female entrepreneurs. Therefore, a self-administered questionnaire of 35 questions with 32 closed questions was used to measure the female entrepreneurs¡¦ profile in terms of characteristics, motivations, and difficulties encountered. The results indicated that the female entrepreneur in Burkina Faso is usually a young and married woman (30-39 years old) whose area of business evolves around commerce, hairdressing, decorations, seam stressing, and dyestuffs, activities that are similar to those women generally performed at home. Psychologically, the female entrepreneur possesses a strong internal locus of control concerning the success or failure of her business venturing. In fact, she believes that she is artisan of her own destiny, and usually does not associate the success or failure of her firm to destiny and chance. Concerning the motives, women are primarily motivated by the need for economic independence, the need to make a living, the need for self-accomplishment and self-realization. The study also indicated that the difficulties faced by these women are mainly financial, and then comes the difficulty to have access to adequate equipment.