MENADŽERSKE PERCEPCIJE IZVOZNIH BARIJERA: UVID DOBIVEN ANKETOM PROVEDENOM U ICT TVRTKAMA NA KOSOVU

This study investigates the managerial perceptions of export barriers of Kosovo ICT companies and provides some policy proposals. For this purpose, the study uses a survey of owners or managers of the ICT companies in Kosovo. The data collected through an online questionnaire survey using a Qualtrics platform were analysed. The survey results reveal four significant export barriers: external institutional barriers, such as visa requirement for Kosovo to visit companies in EU and access to international markets, financing issues for scaling up and growth and human resources barriers, and difficulties in having comprehensive information about the target markets and finding the right partner. Findings from the factor analysis clustered barriers to export into four groups: (1) formal and informal institutions; (2) market information and networking; (3) skills, technical capacities, and quality standards; and (4) International branding, visa requirement and lack of government support. The findings will help boost the growth potential ICT sector, address their needs, and raise policy awareness of the importance of the ICT sector for generating employment and economic growth. The study provides critical practical implications and policy recommendations for government, business associations and ICT companies.U ovom istraživanju ispituju se menadžerske percepcije izvoznih barijera kosovskih ICT tvrtki i predlažu strategije. U tu svrhu u istraživanju je provedena anketa među vlasnicima ili menadžerima ICT tvrtki na Kosovu. Analizirani su podaci prikupljeni online upitnikom na platformi Qualtrics. Rezultati ankete otkrivaju četiri značajne izvozne barijere: vanjske institucionalne barijere, kao što je vizni režim za građane Kosova za posjet tvrtkama u EU i pristup međunarodnim tržištima, pitanja financiranja za povećanje i rast i za prepreke u ljudskim resursima, te poteškoće u dobivanju sveobuhvatnih informacija o ciljanim tržištima i pronalaženje pravog partnera. Nalazi faktorske analize grupiraju izvozne barijere u četiri skupine: (1) formalne i neformalne institucije; (2) informacije o tržištu i umrežavanje; (3) vještine, tehnički kapaciteti i standardi kvalitete i (4) međunarodno brendiranje, vizni režim i nedostatak državne potpore. Nalazi će pomoći jačanju potencijala rasta ICT sektora, rješavanju njihovih potreba i podizanju političke svijesti o važnosti ICT sektora za stvaranje radnih mjesta i gospodarski rast. Ovo istraživanje pruža praktične implikacije i prijedloge strategija za vladu, poslovna udruženja i ICT tvrtke

GIBRATOV ZAKON I JOVANOVIĆEVA TEORIJA UČENJA: EMPIRIJSKI TEST ZA MALA PODUZEĆA U POST-KONFLIKTNOM GOSPODARSKOM OKRUŽENJU

This article tests the validity of Gibrat’s Law and Jovanovic’s learning theory for growing small and medium-sized firms (SMEs) in post-conflict economy of Kosovo. Despite evolving body of evidence suggesting that Gibrat’s Law does not hold, there is a lack of empirical evidence from transitional and post-conflict economies. This study provides econometric analysis of the relationship of age, size and growth of SMEs. The article is based on pooled SME surveys conducted by Riinvest Institute (2004- 2006). Econometric findings show that Gibrat’s Law does not hold in all model specifications while support the conventional Jovanovic’s learning theory based on growth-size age model suggesting important policy implications for promotion of small firms in Kosovo.Ovaj članak testira validnost Gibratovog zakona i Jovanovićeve teorije učenja za rastuća mala i srednja poduzeća u post-konfliktnom gospodarstvu Kosova. Iako brojna istraživanja sugeriraju kako Gibratov zakon nije prihvaćen, nedostaju empirijska istraživanja iz tranzicijskih i post-konfliktnih ekonomija. Ovo istraživanje pruža ekonometrijsku analizu odnosa starosti, veličine i rasta malih i srednjih poduzeća. Članak se temelji na istraživanju malih i srednjih poduzeća koje je proveo Riinvest institut (2004-2006). Ekonometrijski rezultati ukazuju kako Gibratov zakon nije dokazan, dok je prihvaćena konvencionalna Jovanovićeva teorija učenja temeljena na modelu rast veličina-starost što rezultira važnim implikacijama za promociju malih poduzeća na Kosovu

GIBRATOV ZAKON I JOVANOVIĆEVA TEORIJA UČENJA: EMPIRIJSKI TEST ZA MALA PODUZEĆA U POST-KONFLIKTNOM GOSPODARSKOM OKRUŽENJU

This article tests the validity of Gibrat’s Law and Jovanovic’s learning theory for growing small and medium-sized firms (SMEs) in post-conflict economy of Kosovo. Despite evolving body of evidence suggesting that Gibrat’s Law does not hold, there is a lack of empirical evidence from transitional and post-conflict economies. This study provides econometric analysis of the relationship of age, size and growth of SMEs. The article is based on pooled SME surveys conducted by Riinvest Institute (2004- 2006). Econometric findings show that Gibrat’s Law does not hold in all model specifications while support the conventional Jovanovic’s learning theory based on growth-size age model suggesting important policy implications for promotion of small firms in Kosovo.Ovaj članak testira validnost Gibratovog zakona i Jovanovićeve teorije učenja za rastuća mala i srednja poduzeća u post-konfliktnom gospodarstvu Kosova. Iako brojna istraživanja sugeriraju kako Gibratov zakon nije prihvaćen, nedostaju empirijska istraživanja iz tranzicijskih i post-konfliktnih ekonomija. Ovo istraživanje pruža ekonometrijsku analizu odnosa starosti, veličine i rasta malih i srednjih poduzeća. Članak se temelji na istraživanju malih i srednjih poduzeća koje je proveo Riinvest institut (2004-2006). Ekonometrijski rezultati ukazuju kako Gibratov zakon nije dokazan, dok je prihvaćena konvencionalna Jovanovićeva teorija učenja temeljena na modelu rast veličina-starost što rezultira važnim implikacijama za promociju malih poduzeća na Kosovu

Mapping business start-up ecosystem in Kosovo

The aim of this study is to critically review the existing initiatives of start-up support services for entrepreneurship growth in Kosovo. In the light of an increasing government and donor activities to support start-ups in Kosovo, there is a need for evaluation of these policy interventions to guide future entrepreneurship policy. Building on the political economy of small firm intervention literature and using mapping method the study identifies and critically evaluates the technical, financial and other support services to start-ups. The study uses secondary resources to explore the initiatives and understand the entrepreneurship growth ecosystem. The findings suggest that although there is an increased trend of business support services the entrepreneurship ecosystem has not gone beyond the traditional policy measures and in many areas remains in its infancy phase of development. Challenges remain in the area of provision of alternative forms of financing, incubation space and services and moreover, in the area of support for growth-oriented startups. The study concludes by providing alternative and additional policy intervention tools

IMPACT OF AGRICULTURAL INTERVENTION PROGRAMS ON INCOME AND EMPLOYMENT: EVIDENCE FROM VEGETABLE SECTOR IN KOSOVO

The paper aims to analyse the feasibility of the vegetable crop production in Kosovo by developing a model used to measure the impact of agricultural intervention programs. For this purpose, we have used combination of direct costing (DC) and activity based costing (ABC) to assess the production costs schemes comparing the two crop modalities extended in the two different regions using different cultivars and different production technologies. This study uses a DC and ABC approach in calculating costs in the pepper and tomatoes’ production sectors and in the related agro-processing industries based on five case studies. The results derived from the adopted DC and ABC model in the vegetable sector provide more details and precise cost information that assist various managerial decisions, but are primarily used here to evaluate the impact of agricultural programmes on employment and income generation. It helps government and donors to decide between types of funding intervention programs and to see their impact on agricultural development and employment. Results, which referred to one-hectare area, showed both a higher economic and financial sustainability of good agricultural practice with respect to conventional farming, while the opposite was true in terms of employment effects of intervention programs. The study provides policy implications for both, policy makers and donors when estimating impact of interventions on employment and income levels

Compound double ileoileal and ileocecocolic intussusception caused by lipoma of the ileum in an adult patient: A case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>The initial diagnosis of intussusception in adults very often can be missed and cause delayed treatment and possible serious complications. We report the case of an adult patient with complicated double ileoileal and ileocecocolic intussusception.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 46-year-old Caucasian man was transferred from the gastroenterology service to the abdominal surgery service with severe abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. An abdominal ultrasound, barium enema, and abdominal computed tomography scan revealed an intraluminal obstruction of his ascending colon. Plain abdominal X-rays showed diffuse air-fluid levels in his small intestine. A double ileoileal and ileocecocolic intussusception was found during an emergent laparotomy. A right hemicolectomy, including resection of a long segment of his ileum, was performed. The postoperative period was complicated by acute renal failure, shock liver, and pulmonary thromboembolism. Our patient was discharged from the hospital after 30 days. An anatomical pathology examination revealed a lipoma of his ileum.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Intussusception in adults requires early surgical resection regardless of the nature of the initial cause. Delayed treatment can cause very serious complications.</p

BARRIERS TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND SME GROWTH IN TRANSITION: THE CASE OF KOSOVA

This study investigates the barriers to growth of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Kosova. It is based on a SME survey conducted by Riinvest Institute at the end of 2002 which identified critical business environment barriers perceived by entrepreneurs such as legal environment, administrative burden, external financing, tax burden and unfair competition. First, based on this SME survey, the econometric model is constructed in order to test empirically the validity of Gibrat's Law. Then, in order to identify and measure the impact of current reported business environment barriers on SME growth, the Gibrat's Law is augmented with other business environment variables. The econometric results suggest that firms' growth is negatively linked to firms' size and age, suggesting that Gibrat's Law does not hold for growing SMEs in Kosova. Also, the growth of the SMEs is reduced by the presence of the business environmental barriers such as tax burden, unfair competition and inadequate financing. Econometric results raise important issues and policy implications for the development of the SME sector in Kosova.Gibrat's Law, size, age, business environment, growth, SMEs, Kosova