Naslov
Supporting female entrepreneurship in transitional economies: the Croatian experience

Autori
Barković, Ivana ; Borozan, Đula

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u zbornicima skupova, cjeloviti rad (in extenso), znanstveni

Izvornik
Small Business Research / - Tromsø, 2004, 1-17

Skup
13th Nordic Conference on Small Business Research

Mjesto i datum
Tromsø, Norveška, 10.06.2004. - 12.06.2004

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
entrepreneurship; female entrepreneurship; SME sector; economic development

Sažetak
It has been more than a decade since commanded economies and communist governments of Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC) crumbled under the pressure of demands for economic and political freedom. The switch to market oriented economy has brought opportunities and challenges to their citizens, as well as hardships especially economy-wise. In addition, transitional economies are consequently opening more to the processes of economic integration and globalisation in the world that postulate new social and business paradigms of life. In such a context, women in CEEC are entering more and more the job market being driven by the conventional factors of economic conditions, a sense of devaluation of domestic role and a desire of self-fulfillment. New business start-ups and private sector growth have been recognized as imperatives to a successful transition to a free market economy. However, due to numerous historical and cultural factors, women's effort to engage more intensively in entrepreneurial ventures has been hindered. Even tough world demographic statistices reveal that women account for more than 50% of the world population, they are an economic minority, especially when it comes to the sector of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This paper is focusing on examining the role and potential of women as entrepreneurs in Croatia. Using data from intensive GEM (Global Entrepreneurship Monitor) research on SMEs in Croatia conducted in 2002 , combined with the results of survey conducted in the second half of 2002 in the frame of the University Fellows International Research Consortium, international organization directed to research of business operations and other available statistics on women in business and society, this paper makes a case for a support of female entrepreneurship in transitional economies in general and in Croatia in particular, examines various attitudes that individuals could have towards career advancement explicitly and implicitly related to entrepreneurship as a career choice, and suggests organizational and government support for promoting female entrepreneurship in transitional economies. The purpose of this study is to promote women entrepreneurs and their businesses in order to enhance their position and influence in economic and public life in Croatia. A number of suggestions and measures identified in this paper to support female entrepreneurship may serve as a general guide for national or regional decision in promoting women entrepreneurs as an important human resource for economic development.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Ekonomija

POVEZANOST RADA