The development of small enterprises in Bulgaria, Czech Republic and the Russian Federation

Abstract

During the past, the evaluation of the chances of economic transformation and development of Eastern Europe was largely shaped by the view on the modernization and organizational restructuring of large enterprises/combines. Various scholars were sceptical how far these could contribute to a functioning market economy, due to their heritage from the planned economy. The authors therefore investigated how far small entrepreneurs support the transformation process to a market economy. Quantitative and qualitative research was done in Bulgaria, Czech Republic and the Russian Federation in 2003 and 2004 to provide a comprehensive image about the milieu of small enterprises and their ways of operation.