Which Entrepreneurs Expect to Expand Their Businesses? Evidence from Survey Data in Lithuania

Europe-Asia Studies, Vol. 58, No. 6, pp. 855-880, September 2006

William Davidson Institute Working Paper No. 723

25 Pages Posted: 15 Nov 2004 Last revised: 5 Sep 2010

See all articles by Ruta Aidis

Ruta Aidis

University College London; University of Amsterdam - Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB)

Tomasz Mickiewicz

Aston University - Aston Business School

Date Written: October 1, 2004

Abstract

This paper presents an empirical study based on a survey of 399 small and medium size companies in Lithuania. Applying bivariate and ordered probit estimators, we investigate why some business owners intend to expand their firms, while others do not. Our main findings provide evidence that the characteristics of the owners matter. Those with higher education and 'learning by doing' attributes either through previous job experience or additional entrepreneurial experience are more likely to expand their businesses. In addition, the model implications include that the intentions to expand are correlated with exporting and with size of the enterprise: medium and small size companies are more likely to grow than micro enterprises and self-employed entrepreneurs. We also analyse the link between the main perceptions of constraints to business activities and growth expectations and find that the factors, which are perceived as main business barriers, are not necessary those, which are associated with low growth expectations. In particular, perceptions of both corruption and of inadequate tax systems are main barriers to growth.

Keywords: SME, employment, human capital, taxes, corruption

JEL Classification: P37, D21, L21

Suggested Citation

Aidis, Ruta and Mickiewicz, Tomasz Marek, Which Entrepreneurs Expect to Expand Their Businesses? Evidence from Survey Data in Lithuania (October 1, 2004). Europe-Asia Studies, Vol. 58, No. 6, pp. 855-880, September 2006, William Davidson Institute Working Paper No. 723, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=618701 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.618701

Ruta Aidis (Contact Author)

University College London ( email )

Gower Street
London
United Kingdom

University of Amsterdam - Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) ( email )

Roetersstraat 11
Amsterdam, 1018 WB
Netherlands
+ 31 20 525 4011 (Phone)
+ 31 20 525 4254 (Fax)

Tomasz Marek Mickiewicz

Aston University - Aston Business School ( email )

Aston Triangle
Birmingham, B47ET
United Kingdom

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
241
Abstract Views
1,766
Rank
230,645
PlumX Metrics