The intersection of education and gender disparities in entrepreneurship: a longitudinal decomposition approach in Russia

Purpose This study examines the role of education in explaining and potentially reducing gender disparities in entrepreneurship in Russia, a country with a relatively low gender gap in entrepreneurial activity. The research aims to assess whether educational attainment – particularly women's superior educational outcomes – contributes to narrowing the entrepreneurship gap over time. Design/methodology/approach The analysis uses data from the Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey (RLMS-HSE) covering the years 2000–2022. The sample comprises 226,242 observations from 36,227 individuals, of whom 54.8% are women. Gender disparities in entrepreneurship are analyzed using longitudinal decomposition techniques – extensions of the Kitagawa-Oaxaca-Blinder method – allowing for the separation of differences in levels and changes. The models control for sociodemographic characteristics such as age, marital status, number of children, health status, generalized trust, migration background, ethnicity and residency in Moscow or Saint Petersburg. The study differentiates between necessity-driven and opportunity-driven entrepreneurship. Findings The results indicate that education plays a significant role in reducing the gender gap in entrepreneurship in Russia. Women in Russia exhibit higher levels of educational attainment than men, and this educational advantage is associated with a narrowing of the entrepreneurship gap, which remains relatively small. Importantly, education functions as a structural equalizer rather than a short-term dynamic driver of convergence. These findings are robust across both types of entrepreneurship and persist after controlling for other relevant variables. Originality/value This study contributes novel empirical evidence on gender and entrepreneurship in a transition economy by applying longitudinal decomposition techniques to a large, nationally representative dataset. The research highlights the unique case of Russia, where gender parity in entrepreneurship is comparatively high, and underscores the critical role of education in shaping equitable economic outcomes. The findings offer policy-relevant insights for other countries seeking to use education as a lever to promote gender equality in entrepreneurial activity.