The prudent entrepreneurs: women and public sector innovation. Issue 9 (2nd September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lapuente, Victor; Suzuki, Kohei
• Is Part Of: Journal of European public policy. Volume 28:Issue 9(2021)
• Page Start: 1345
• Page End: 1371
• Publication Date: 2021-09-02
• Subjects: Public sector -- innovation -- gender -- bureaucratic behavior -- Europe -- cross-national study -- comparative public administration; European Union countries -- Politics and government -- Periodicals; Political planning -- European Union countries -- Periodicals; Politique publique -- Pays de l'Union européenne -- Périodiques; Pays de l'Union européenne -- Politique et gouvernement -- Périodiques; 361.61094
• DOI: 10.1080/13501763.2020.1770316
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1350-1763

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Despite the large literature on gender differences in politics, there have been relatively few empirical studies testing the effects of gender in public administration. This paper examines how male and female public managers show attitudinal differences toward innovation in the public sector. We hypothesize that male and female managers differ in three aspects. Firstly, female managers are more result-oriented than rule-following, and more oriented toward societal interests. Secondly, female public managers are more open to new ideas and creativity, and more willing to challenge the status quo. Yet, thirdly, female leaders are less eager to take risks when would-be innovations may put their organizations in peril. Thus, we argue that female managers are more prudent and entrepreneurial than their male counterparts. We test these hypotheses using a data set of 5, 909 senior public managers from 20 European countries. The results of multilevel model analysis find statistically significant gender differences in attitudes toward innovation. Despite the small size of gender impacts, our findings challenge prevailing stereotypes on women's entrepreneurial attitudes.