- In recent years, the rate of new business started by women has significantly outpaced the rate of new business started by men. Similar trends are found across the developing world. Why, then, do women still own and manage significantly fewer businesses than men? To what extent does the behaviour of female entrepreneurs in terms of traits, motivations and success rates, and their gender-related distinctiveness, provide an answer? ( see http://unu.edu/publications/articles/examining-entrepreneur-gender-gap.html#info)