Score contribution per author:
α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count
This paper investigates entrepreneurial women confronted with the self‐employment or business career choice. Optimistic women have a higher proclivity to be businesswomen. Businesswomen select self‐ over paid employment when they are young or old, less educated, married or with under‐age children. There are no significant native‐immigrant differences. However, among immigrant women those who are in Germany 6 to 12 years are more likely to go into self‐employment. These results show that women in Germany who are in their prime working age, educated, not married, and with no under‐age children are less likely to choose self‐employment, as it is not viewed as a channel to achieving higher socio‐economic standing.