Abstract

This study examines whether there are gender differences in personal traits and decision making patterns among
Chinese private entrepreneurs. Data from a 2004 national-wide survey of 3012 private firms in China show that
there is no gender difference in education level between women entrepreneurs and their male counterparts,
however, women entrepreneurs have smaller family size and work longer hours in their firms than male
entrepreneurs. Consistent with what was found in the developed countries firms owned by Chinese women
entrepreneurs are significantly smaller in term of the numbers of employees, revenue and profit. Moreover,
women entrepreneurs in China are more likely to make important decisions together with their major managers
compared to their male counterparts.

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