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The Challenge Facing SMEs in the Eu’s New Member States

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Abstract

The paper considers the main threats and opportunities for SMEs in new member states, arising out of EU membership, including the implications for SMEs at the micro level. Whilst accession-related changes have important potential implications for firms of all sizes, the distinctive size-related characteristics of SMEs affect their ability to identify, cope with and respond to new sources of threat and opportunity. These potential impacts face new member countries at a relatively early stage in the development of market-based systems, which still contain many deficiencies (particularly in institutional terms) and a SME sector with many characteristics that reflect its fledgling status.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Professor of Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Small Business Research Centre (SBRC), Kingston University, Kingston Kill, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, KT2 7LB

    David Smallbone

  2. Department of Entrepreneurship and Industrial Policy, University of Lodz, 22/26 Matejki St., 90-237, Lodz, Poland

    Anna Rogut

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  1. David Smallbone
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  2. Anna Rogut
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Correspondence to David Smallbone.

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Smallbone, D., Rogut, A. The Challenge Facing SMEs in the Eu’s New Member States. Entrepreneurship Mgt. 1, 219–240 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11365-005-1130-x

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