Female entrepreneurs in transition economies: insights from Albania, Macedonia and Kosovo

Female entrepreneurship is a growing trend in transition economies. This article focuses on female entrepreneurs in Albania, Macedonia and Kosovo (hereinafter ALMAKOS) and provides an understanding of current motives, problems and perspectives of female entrepreneurs in this region. Surveys were conducted during the period of January-March 2014 (Macedonia) and May-June 2014 (Albania and Kosovo), to complement secondary sources. The results are reported in terms of the female entrepreneur's personal characteristics, motives for starting a business, the characteristics of their business and operations, the size of the business they run, revenues, their family status, management problems in starting or maintaining their businesses and their self-perceived required competences.