Title: Female entrepreneurs in transition economies: insights from Albania, Macedonia and Kosovo

Authors: Veland Ramadani; Robert D. Hisrich; Shqipe Gërguri-Rashiti

Addresses: Faculty of Business and Economics, South-East European University, 1200 Tetovo, Macedonia ' Garvin Professor of Global Entrepreneurship, Thunderbird School of Global Management, Glendale, AZ 85306, USA ' College of Business Administration, American University of Middle East, Block 3, Al-Eqaila, Kuwait

Abstract: Female entrepreneurship is a growing trend in transition economies. This article focuses on female entrepreneurs in Albania, Macedonia and Kosovo (hereinafter ALMAKOS) and provides an understanding of current motives, problems and perspectives of female entrepreneurs in this region. Surveys were conducted during the period of January-March 2014 (Macedonia) and May-June 2014 (Albania and Kosovo), to complement secondary sources. The results are reported in terms of the female entrepreneur's personal characteristics, motives for starting a business, the characteristics of their business and operations, the size of the business they run, revenues, their family status, management problems in starting or maintaining their businesses and their self-perceived required competences.

Keywords: women entrepreneurs; female entrepreneurs; motivation; problems; management capabilities; Albania; Macedonia; Kosovo; transition economies; entrepreneurship; competences; firm size; firm revenue; family status.

DOI: 10.1504/WREMSD.2015.072066

World Review of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, 2015 Vol.11 No.4, pp.391 - 413

Received: 25 Sep 2014
Accepted: 26 Sep 2014
Published online: 30 Sep 2015 *