Study: Female Entrepreneurship Drives Potential €250 Billion Economic Boost

Europe's economy could see a €250 billion increase by 2040 if women founded half of all new businesses, a Frontier Economics study finds. Commissioned by Amazon, the report reveals that increasing female participation in entrepreneurship could raise productivity across the continent by 1.6% to 5.5%. Currently, women lead only about a third of businesses in the EU, indicating a significant opportunity for growth. The study identifies key obstacles hindering female entrepreneurs. Access to capital proves a major challenge, with 37% of women-led businesses struggling to secure investment. Inadequate government support also presents a barrier, cited by 40% of respondents. The report suggests five priority actions for policymakers to address these issues. These include integrating support for SMEs and female entrepreneurs into competitiveness strategies, improving women's access to finance, simplifying regulations, enhancing digital skills, and addressing structural issues related to caregiving. The report urges EU and national policymakers to prioritize female entrepreneurship to bolster Europe's overall competitiveness. The findings suggest that targeted policy interventions could unlock substantial economic gains by leveling the playing field for women in business.