THE NEED FOR INTERMEDIATE SUPPORT-STRUCTURES FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN TRANSITIONAL ECONOMIES

Abstract

In economies in transition, the newly emerging private sector lacks professional, financial, and economic structure provided by ministries and government agencies to state-owned enterprises. In mature market economies, the small and medium-size enterprise (SME) sector has been acknowledged as being the backbone of the economy. Research on the European Union reveals that the success of entrepreneurship depends on a conducive climate which includes intermediate support structures, such as branch/sectoral organisations, specialised SME research organisations, business advisory centres, innovation centres, employers' organisations, etc. The experience from the economies in transition in Central and Eastern Europe shows that the entrepreneurs suffer from weak support of financial, management, environment and trade services. In order to develop a healthy SME sector, a favourable environment should be created and supporting intermediate structures established. Such support organisations should, in addition, bridge the gap between government agencies and the private sector.