Women’s Entrepreneurship in the Western Balkans: Institutional Barriers, Digital Transformation, and Pathways to Inclusive Growth

Blerta Abazi Chaushi (), Teuta Veseli-Kurtishi () and Agron Chaushi ()
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Blerta Abazi Chaushi: Faculty of Business and Economics, South East European University, North Macedonia
Teuta Veseli-Kurtishi: South East European University, Macedonia
Agron Chaushi: Faculty of Business and Economics, South East European University

European Journal of Studies in Management and Business, 2025, vol. 36, 54-74

Abstract: Women’s entrepreneurship is a critical driver of inclusive growth and innovation, yet women in the Western Balkans continue to face persistent socio-economic, institutional, and digital barriers. This study examines the key determinants shaping women’s entrepreneurial participation in the region through a comparative analysis of secondary data from the World Bank, EBRD, Eurostat, and OECD. Guided by the Entrepreneurial Intentions Theory and the Resource-Based View, the findings reveal substantial gaps in financial inclusion, digital competencies, and institutional support that constrain women’s ability to start and scale businesses. While Albania and Serbia exhibit relatively higher levels of female entrepreneurial engagement, countries such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and North Macedonia face pronounced digital divides and institutional inefficiencies. The paper concludes with policy recommendations aimed at expanding women’s access to finance, strengthening digital-skills development, and promoting gender-responsive institutional frameworks to build a more inclusive and resilient entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Western Balkans.

Keywords: Women’s Entrepreneurship; Western Balkans; Institutional Barriers; Financial Inclusion; Digital Skills; Gender Equality; Entrepreneurial Ecosystems (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:bco:mbrqaa::v:36:y:2025:p:54-74

DOI: 10.32038/mbrq.2025.36.04

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