Enterprising Women in Transition Economies

Entrepreneurship is a key element in the development of market based economies and one of the potential drivers of change in countries that are in the process of transformation to market based systems. This book describes and critically assesses the nature and extent of female entrepreneurship in European economies that until 1990 were operating under central planning. At the core of the book are 7 country based chapters which provide an overview of the development of entrepreneurship and small firms since 1990, including a review of the institutional and policy context; an assessment of the role of women within the society during the socialist period; and any major changes afterwards. Each chapter also includes a thematic section (each one addressing a different issue) based on unique empirical data drawn from original research. Contents: Part 1 Women's Entrepreneurship in a Transition Context - Key Issues: Introduction, Friederike Welter, David Smallbone and Nina Isakova. Part 2 Women's Entrepreneurship in Former Soviet Republics: Entrepreneurship in the Ukraine: a male female comparison, Nina Isakova, Olha Krasovska, Lidia Kavunenko and Alexander Lugovy; Women entrepreneurs between tradition and modernity - the case of Uzbekistan, Friederike Welter, David Smallbone, Damira Mirzakhalikova, Natalja Ju. Schakirova and Charos Maksudova; Women business owners in Moldova: proprietors or entrepreneurs?, Elena Aculai, Nelly Rodionova and Natalia Vinogradova; Djamila's journey from Kolkhoz to Bazaar: female entrepreneurs in Kyrgyzstan, Gül Berna Öczan. Part 3 Women Entrepreneurship in Central Europe: From business ownership to informal market traders: the characteristics of female entrepreneurship in Lithuania, Ruta Aidis; Women entrepreneurs in Slovenia: By Fits and Starts, Mateja Drnovšek and Miroslav Glas; West and East German women entrepreneurs: (why) are they still different?, Friederike Welter.Part 4 Policy Issues and Policy Perspectives: Conclusions and policy perspectives, Friederike Welter, David Smallbone and Nina Isakova; Index.