Title: Barriers to doing business in Kosova: an institutional approach

Authors: Durim Hoxha

Addresses: Departament d'Economia de l'Empresa, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain

Abstract: This paper aims to contribute to the ongoing debate on barriers to growth and institutional influence in entrepreneurship. The empirical evidence comes from Kosova – a unique postwar environment characterised by a transitional economy. We employ the institutional approach developed by North (1990) in explaining the barriers to doing business in Kosova. Our results show that in the absence of the appropriate institutional setting, the informal factors emerge as a barrier to the growth of the firms in Kosova. More important, these obstacles harm especially fast-growing firms. Our study proves that institutions, both formal and informal, are important factors in shaping the entrepreneurial activities in Kosova.

Keywords: barriers to growth; entrepreneurship; firm growth; institutional theory; fast-growing firms; Kosova; institutional influence; transitional economies.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2009.024376

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2009 Vol.8 No.2, pp.186 - 199

Published online: 02 Apr 2009 *

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