The moderation effect of entrepreneurship development programs on the economic and political empowerment association. Empirical evidence from post-revolution rural Tunisia
Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies
ISSN: 2053-4604
Article publication date: 13 September 2023
Issue publication date: 19 November 2024
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore individuals’ economic empowerment and political empowerment association and the moderation role of entrepreneurship development programs on this relationship in the context of post-revolution Tunisia, which is a newer developing democracy.
Design/methodology/approach
The study uses a quantitative approach based on econometric modeling. A questionnaire was designed and administrated to a stratified random sample of 343 participants in the Entrepreneurship for the Participation and Inclusion of Vulnerable Youth in Tunisia program, funded by the United Nations Democracy Fund and implemented in rural northwestern Tunisia between 2017 and 2021. A coarsened exact matching method is also applied for robustness analysis.
Findings
The analysis shows that when individuals have enhanced economic decision-making agency and are involved in economic networks, they are more likely to demonstrate higher political empowerment. It also shows that expanding rural individuals’ economic opportunities by providing entrepreneurial resources, such as entrepreneurial training and microcredit, strengthens individuals’ economic empowerment and political empowerment association.
Practical implications
The study provides practical implications for policymakers in newer developing democracies. Citizens’ political empowerment and inclusion in rural areas could be promoted by developing entrepreneurship development programs, which could help reinforce the citizens-state relationship and establish more stable social contracts. The research also provides practical implications for the international development community, donor agencies and program designers through duplicating similar programs in other countries with weak central government structures (i.e. post-conflict environments, post-revolution).
Originality/value
The research attempts to contribute to the ongoing debates linking entrepreneurship, economic empowerment and political/citizen empowerment. It focuses on a Middle East and North Africa country, Tunisia, characterized by socioeconomic issues and low civic participation.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors are thankful to the Tamkeen for development team: Chekib Besbes, Boudour Lahzami, Noelle Laouini and Nabil Kasraoui. The authors also acknowledge Annika Savill (UNDEF), Ghassen Khelifi and Hatem Ghouma. Many thanks also go to Prof. Mahmoud Sami Nabi (University of Carthage, Tunisia) and the participants at the 32nd conference of the Society for the Advanced Socio-Economics (SASE, 2020).
Please note that the data collection process was financed by the NGO Tamkeen for Development as a part of the EPIVYT program.
Citation
Toumi, K., Ghalleb, N. and Akimowicz, M. (2024), "The moderation effect of entrepreneurship development programs on the economic and political empowerment association. Empirical evidence from post-revolution rural Tunisia", Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies, Vol. 16 No. 6, pp. 1657-1687. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEEE-10-2022-0326
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited