Female entrepreneurship and the competitiveness of micro, small and medium enterprises in Latin America

Purpose This study investigates how women entrepreneurs in 14 Latin American countries perceive the determinants of competitiveness in Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). It addresses the theoretical gap regarding female entrepreneurship, examining how entrepreneurial experiences intersect with cultural values and levels of economic development in emerging economies. Design/methodology/approach This quantitative research is an exploratory study. Multivariate statistical analysis techniques were employed using SPSS Statistics 22 software. Data from the Ibero-American Observatory of MSMEs (Observatorio Iberoamericano de la MIPYME) were used. The sample includes 452 women entrepreneurs working in 10 economic sectors. Findings The results demonstrate that cultural values are significantly associated with women entrepreneurs’ perceptions of the competitiveness of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and this varies according to the country’s level of economic development. Originality/value This study offers an innovative and contextualized understanding of women’s entrepreneurship in Latin America, highlighting how sociocultural and economic heterogeneity shapes the construction of managerial meaning in politically and institutionally unstable environments. It contributes to theoretical and empirical debates by positioning women entrepreneurs as essential agents of organizational transformation and regional economic development.