The Role of Small and Medium Enterprises in the Economy of Slovakia
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University of Nebraska at Omaha DigitalCommons@UNO Student Work 11-2001 The role of small and medium enterprises in the economy of Slovakia Jaroslav Kling University of Nebraska at Omaha Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/studentwork Part of the Geography Commons, and the Geology Commons Recommended Citation Kling, Jaroslav, "The role of small and medium enterprises in the economy of Slovakia" (2001). Student Work. 3066. https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/studentwork/3066 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@UNO. It has been accepted for inclusion in Student Work by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@UNO. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE ROLE OF SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTEPRISES IN THE ECONOMY OF SLOVAKIA A THESIS Presented to the Department of Geography and Geology and the Faculty of the Graduate College University of Nebraska In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts University of Nebraska at Omaha by Jaroslav Kling November 2001 UMI Number: EP73339 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMI Dissertation Publishing UMI EP73339 Published by ProQuest LLC (2015). Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code ProQuest ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106 -1346 THESIS ACCEPTANCE Acceptance for the faculty of the Graduate College, University of Nebraska, in partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree Master of Arts, University of Nebraska at Omaha Committee £ 3 ^ , ~ 3 ) CXPsrvy THE ROLE OF SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTEPRISES IN THE ECONOMY OF SLOVAKIA Jaroslav Kling, M.A. University of Nebraska, 2001 Advisor: RNDr. Petr Pavlfnek, PhD. Abstract The aim of this paper is to analyze the role of small and medium enterprises in the economy of Slovakia. The changes of 1989 brought about the changes of society and economy as well. In the period of transformation of the Slovak economy, small and medium enterprises have been often considered to be a critical element of economic revival. The study answers to what extent this expectation has been met. Legal and institutional frameworks of the small and medium enterprises development are analyzed. Popular attitudes toward entrepreneurs, views and opinions of the key representatives of entrepreneurs and state representatives are included in the paper as well. The influence of small and medium enterprises on economy of Slovakia is measured through theirs contribution to different economic indicators and analyzed here. Finally, the relationship between economic development distribution and distribution of small and medium enterprises is presented. Major findings and suggestions for improvement of the small and medium enterprises development are included at the end of this study. ii Acknowledgement I would like to thank Dr. Pavlfnek for all he has ever done for me as my professor and as my friend, I would like to acknowledge professors at the Department of Geography and Geology for the trust they put in me when I was selected as a teaching assistant for the department. The advices of all my American friends were more than helpful. Out of all of them I would like to mention especially Shawn Simon, Lesli Rawlings and last, but not least Brad Richardson. I would also like to acknowledge the institutions, which contributed financially to my study, the Charta 77 Foundation, Office of Sponsored Programs and Research, University of Nebraska at Omaha and Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, University of Nebraska at Omaha. Thank you. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS......................................................................................................... Ill LIST OF TABLES.................................................................................................................... IV LIST OF FIGURES.................................................................................................................. IV 1 INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................... 1 1.1 N ature of the problem ..................................................................................................................2 1.2 Objectives............................................................................................................................................5 1.3 Hypotheses / ratio nale .................................................................................................................6 1.4 Significance of research ............................................................................................................. 7 1.5 Definition of t er m s .........................................................................................................................8 1.6 Study area b ac k g ro un d .............................................................................................................. 9 2 LITERATURE REVIEW...........................................................................................12 2.1 Approaches to transformation in C E E ..............................................................................12 2.2 Transformation and uneven regional development in Slo vak ia ....................... 13 2.3 Sm all and m edium enterprises a nd regional development : A Western EXPERIENCE...................................................................................................................................... 15 2.4 Sm all a nd m edium enterprises a nd the legacies of states so c ia lism ............... 17 2.5 Sm all a nd m edium enterprises in Slovakia : Engines of economic growth ? 19 3 METHODOLOGY.................................................................................................... 22 3.1 Data compilation ..........................................................................................................................22 3.2 Data a n a l y s is .................................................................................................................................26 4 CURRENT FRAMEWORK OF SME' DEVELOPMENT IN SLOVAKIA 28 4.1 Legal environment ...................................................................................................................... 28 4.2 Institutional fram ew ork ..........................................................................................................31 4.3 Supports for small and medium enterprises ...................................................................33 4.3.1 Advisory and training support...................................................................................... 34 4.3.2 Legislation and coordination........................................................................ support 34 4.3.3 Financial support...........................................................................................................35 4.3.4 Conclusion.....................................................................................................................39 4.4 M ajor constraints of sm all and medium enterprises in Slovakia ......................41 4.4.1 Administrative and legislative obstacles........................................................ to SME 42 4.4.2 Popular attitudes toward entrepreneurship.................................................................47 4.4.3 The obstacles of financial character.............................................................................50 4.4.4 Conclusion.....................................................................................................................53 5 THE ROLE OF SME IN THE ECONOMY OF SLOVAKIA .................................55 5.1 Position of SME in the economy of Slo v a k ia ................................................................. 55 5.1.1 Conclusion.....................................................................................................................59 5.2 SME AND UNEVEN DEVELOPMENT IN SLOVAKIA ..................................................................... 60 5.2.1 Conclusion..................................................................................................................... 70 6 CONCLUSIONS ..........................................................................................................72 iv 6.1 M ajor fin d in g s ............................................................................................................................... 72 6.1.1 Legal environment.................................................................................................................... 72 6.1.2 Institutional base.......................................................................................................................73 6.1.3 Support programs......................................................................................................................74 6.1.4 Financial constraints to SME................................................................................................ 75 6.1.5