DO WOMEN AND MEN ENGAGE IN EARLY-STAGE ENTREPRENEURSHIP DIFFERENTLY? EVIDENCE FROM ECUADOR

Abstract

This study analyzes the relationship between Early-Stage Entrepreneurial Activity (TEA), gender, and age in the Service Sector of Tungurahua Province, Ecuador, during the 2010–2024 period. The research is motivated by the persistence of structural gaps that limit the participation and sustainability of female entrepreneurship, particularly in contexts characterized by informality, restricted access to financing, and unequal economic opportunities. A quantitative approach was employed using a non-experimental, descriptive-correlational research design. Secondary data were obtained from the Internal Revenue Service (SRI) and the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC). The sample consisted of active businesses from six service subsectors selected through purposive non-probability sampling. Statistical analyses included correlation tests, the Mann–Whitney U test, and a multiple linear regression model. The results revealed significant differences in TEA according to gender and age groups. Female entrepreneurship was more prevalent in accommodation, education, and health-related activities, whereas male entrepreneurship was concentrated in transportation and storage. The findings indicate that both age and gender influence entrepreneurial dynamics and that persistent structural inequalities continue to constrain the development of female entrepreneurship in Tungurahua.