Gender and firm innovation in Colombia

Abstract

This study analyzes the relationship between gender and entrepreneurial innovation in Colombia, a developing economy with a low propensity to innovate in relative terms with its peers in the region. To advance the research, data from the World Bank Business Survey for 2017 are used. A total of 993 companies were sampled. Two response variables were used for the analysis: product innovation and process innovation. The regression variables were selected according to an exhaustive review of the literature, among which stand out the experience of the manager, the training of the employees, the size of the company, as well as the percentage of ownership in the hands of women of the organization and if the general manager is female. Among the main findings are that firms run by women double the probability of innovating with products, while there is no relationship between the gender of managers and process innovation.