The Role of Entrepreneurship in Economic Development (original) (raw)

Entrepreneurship Policy in Estonia

The main task of this article is to explore the entrepreneurship policy in Estonia. The idea proceeds from the book by Lundström and Stevenson (2001), in which the authors describe, analyse and discuss the development of entrepreneurship policy in ten economies — six EU Member States and four members of APEC. In some respects, this article strives to be a “missing chapter” in the aforementioned book concerning entrepreneurship policy in Estonia. It should be considered as an attempt to apply their approach to a country without a long history in SME development. The article starts with an overview of the theoretical background and goes on to examine entrepreneurship policy (or even economic policy) in Estonia. Examination of SME / entrepreneurship policy documents shows that Estonia is moving towards entrepreneurship policy, but with certain minor reservations. The current Estonian entrepreneurship policy may be regarded as a combination of an extension to SME policy and a holistic p...

Entrepreneurship in Estonia: policies, practices, education and research

The paper studies the internationalization of all listed Estonian companies, examining to what extent it has accorded with main internationalization theories. An overview is given of several theoretical approaches, including international entrepreneurship literature, the Uppsala, the innovation-related internationalization and the Finnish models and the network approach to internationalization. The paper contains 13 cases: those of Baltika, Eesti Telekom, Hansabank Group 2 , Harju Elekter, Kalev, Klementi, Merko Ehitus, Norma, Rakvere Lihakombinaat, Saku Õlletehas, Tallinna Farmaatsiatehas, Tallinna Kaubamaja and Viisnurk, and ends with managerial and research suggestions. The Characteristics of Subsidiary Initiatives.

From entrepreneurial intention to enterprise creation: the case of Estonia

Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies, 2020

Purpose The present paper aims to identify a set of cognitive and contextual characteristics that explain entrepreneurial intentions, actions and venture creation, thereby covering three successive stages of becoming an entrepreneur. Design/methodology/approach The analysis is based on entrepreneurship data from a self-reported online survey (n = 1,492) gathered among the Estonian population in 2017. The authors use an exploratory factor analysis to reduce initial survey responses about the external environment into latent factors. Linear regression models are applied to predict the determinants of entrepreneurial intention and actions, whereas the logit model is applied to find out the determinants of being or not being an entrepreneur. Findings Younger people, respondents with vocational education and the unemployed have a higher intention to start up. Men are more active than women in the second stage of taking real action, whereas middle-aged respondents and managers are less ac...

Features of successful entrepreneurs in Estonia and changing organisational development challenges

Baltic Journal of Management, 2009

This paper is based on the E-World research programme focusing on international perspectives of entrepreneurship. In the first stage of this international research project, each country had to conduct focus groups in order to develop a preliminary list of traits and behavioural patterns of successful entrepreneurs. Focus groups combined with individual assessments were used for this task. The following features of successful entrepreneurs in Estonia in 2007 were pointed out most often by all categories of respondents: courage to take risks, openness to new information, flexibility, creativity and determination. Networking and acquiring capital, but also selecting the right team and following agreements were described as ways to success. The focus groups stressed some success factors that were seen as being more important for entrepreneurs operating in Estonia in 2007 than in the 1990s: broad world view, wide social network, innovativeness and creativity and lobbying within EU-related structures.

Economic Development and Entrepreneurship

Procedia Economics and Finance, 2014

Several dynamic forces, such as technological disruption, fluctuating economies or demographical changes, have brought new opportunities and threats for organizations, and transformed societies from all over the world. In order to cope with these shifting forces, governments, public and private organizations, and the public are more and more aware of the importance of entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship is a multifaceted phenomenon, being analysed as a process, a resource or a state-of-being. According to the Schumpeterian view, the entrepreneurial process constitutes one of the key factors in the economic development of a country/region. However, researchers have expressed different views about the relationship between the stages of economic development and entrepreneurship during the time. The aims of the paper are to examine in brief the concepts of economic development and entrepreneurship, and to emphasize the role of entrepreneurship in economic development. The methodological approach is literature review. Our paper provides a theoretical model that highlights some of the main factors involved in the relationship between entrepreneurship and economic development. More than ever in the history, economic development and entrepreneurship have become strongly interconnected.

The Importance of Entrepreneurship as a Contributing Factor to Economic Growth and Development: The Case of Selected European Countries

Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies

Entrepreneurship has been pointed out as a key contributor to sustained economic growth and development as it not only creates employment, but increased spending in markets, knowledge transfers, employment and innovation. However, very few studies exist that empirically measures the relationship between the three variables; economic growth, economic development and entrepreneurship. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine and highlight the importance of entrepreneurship as a contributing factor to economic growth and development. Traditionally, economic growth is measured by the gross domestic product (GDP) of a country. As no formal measurement of economic development exists, an index was created taking into consideration the Human Development Index (HDI), percentage population above the poverty line and employment rate. The entrepreneurship development variable is measured by the Total Early-Stage Entrepreneurial Activity (TEA). The study followed a quantitative resea...

Features of Successful Entrepreneurs in Estonia

2008

This paper is based on the E-World research programme focusing on international perspectives of entrepreneurship. In the first stage of this international research project, each country had to conduct focus groups in order to develop a preliminary list of traits and behavioural patterns of successful entrepreneurs. Focus groups combined with individual assessments were used for this task. The following features of successful entrepreneurs in Estonia in 2007 were pointed out most often by all categories of respondents: courage to take risks, openness to new information, flexibility, creativity and determination. Networking and acquiring capital, but also selecting the right team and following agreements were described as ways to success. The focus groups stressed some success factors that were seen as being more important for entrepreneurs operating in Estonia in 2007 than in the 1990s: broad world view, wide social network, innovativeness and creativity and lobbying within EU-related structures.

Innovation policies and entrepreneurship in the Baltic States - key to European Economic success

2017

Entrepreneurship is by far the most important force stimulating economic growth and social progress. In case of the Baltic States pro-market regulation allowed passing over the transition period in a relatively short period of time and, therefore, be sufficiently competitive as to integrate into the European Union. Thus, presently, the Baltic States came to be the most economically developed countries among the former USSR states. Consequently, the present research addresses three key questions, first, which is the role of entrepreneurship in determining the Baltic States’ economic development, second, what is the influence of R&D investments of the society in general and of business in particular in boosting economic development, and third, will the present fiscal policies in the Baltic States motivate further economic growth by stimulating entrepreneurial and innovation? The methodology involved in this paper includes both quantitative and qualitative indicators which combined wil...