Entrepreneurship in SME Segment: Case Study from the Czech Republic and Slovakia
Author:Jaroslav Belás, Yuriy Bilan, Valér Demjan and Juraj Sipko
JEL:L26, O16, G32, G21
DOI:
Keywords:Entrepreneurship, Small and medium-sized enterprises, business environment,
the motivation to start business, corruption in business, financial gap, business optimism
Abstract:
Definition and comparison of the current business environment of the Czech and Slovakian
SMEs in the selected regions are the main objectives of the article. In accordance with this
objective motivational factors, status in the society, relationship to the state, level of the
corruption, approach to loan financing, and business optimism in the business environment
have been examined. In details, there have been quantified the differences between the
trading companies and the others, between the companies over 10 years old and the others,
and between the micro-enterprises and the others. There were compared the opinions of
entrepreneurs who stated that their main motivation to start a business was money to the
opinions of other entrepreneurs. Our research has produced interesting findings. It was
found out that money is an important motive for starting a business, although there are
some regional differences in this area. Entrepreneurs negatively perceive the relationship
between surroundings and their activities, the relationship of the state to the business and
corruption that they encounter while performing their business activities. The businessmen
rather criticized the banks’ approach of banks to fund their needs and at the same time they
expressed a great deal of business optimism.