Title: Ethnic entrepreneurship in Macedonia: the case of Albanian entrepreneurs

Authors: Veland Ramadani; Gadaf Rexhepi; Shqipe Gërguri-Rashiti; Sadudin Ibraimi; Léo-Paul Dana

Addresses: Faculty of Business and Economics, South-East European University, Tetovo, Macedonia ' Faculty of Business and Economics, South-East European University, Tetovo, Macedonia ' College of Business Administration, American University of Middle East, Kuwait City, Kuwait ' Faculty of Business and Economics, South-East European University, Tetovo, Macedonia ' Groupe Sup de CoMontpellier Business School, Montpellier Research in Management, 2300 Avenue des Moulins, Montpellier, France

Abstract: The objective of this paper is to provide a picture of the characteristics of Albanian entrepreneurs and their enterprises in the Republic of Macedonia. According to State Statistical Office of the Republic of Macedonia (2005), based on the data from the last census of population, households and dwellings in 2002, the Republic of Macedonia had 2,022,547 inhabitants of whom Albanians were 509,083 (25.2%). Since Albanians represent the greatest minority in the Republic of Macedonia, we were interested to analyse businesses that are operated and managed by them. We conducted empirical research during the period April-June 2013 of 89 businesses, owned by Albanians in the Republic of Macedonia. We analysed the motives for starting and managing one's own business, problems of these businesses, success factors, forms of organisation, sources of financing, ethics and social responsibility of Albanian entrepreneurs, e-commerce challenges and characteristics, etc.

Keywords: ethnic entrepreneurship; Macedonia; Albania; culture; ethnicity; minorities; entrepreneurial motivation; self-employed entrepreneurs; self-owned firms; self-employed businesses; self employment; social responsibility; financing; firms success; ethics.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2014.065525

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2014 Vol.23 No.3, pp.313 - 335

Received: 21 Apr 2014
Accepted: 22 Apr 2014
Published online: 07 Nov 2014 *

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