Characteristics of Agro-Entrepreneurs in Southeast Europe

Introduction

This chapter is dedicated to the understanding of agro-entrepreneurial activity in the South East Europe region (SEE). The objective of the chapter is to determine characteristics of agro-entrepreneurs in South East Europe region. The methodology used in the research in this chapter is based on a theoretical investigation of available literature and Global Entrepreneurship Monitor database, the most relevant study in the field of entrepreneurship. The authors will present the data in order to investigate main characteristics of agro-entrepreneurs in SEE region. The key problem, as well as the overall problem orientation of this research, is related to the analysis of agro entrepreneurial ventures in the SEE region. The aim of this study is to determine the factors that influence early-stage entrepreneurial activity in the agro sector of the SEE region. In order to address the above mentioned, we follow the existing debate and in line with the theory and related research, we propose a set of determinants such as national culture, individual entrepreneurial characteristics, and entrepreneurial aspirations (growth, innovation, internationalization) that can influence entrepreneurial activity of entrepreneurial activity in agro sectors (agro-entrepreneurs). The sample is comprised of data collected by interviewing early entrepreneurs who are involved in business in SEE. Total early-stage entrepreneurial activity (TEA), represents a combination of the early entrepreneurs in the phase that combines the stages before the start of a new firm, nascent entrepreneurship, setting up a business and paying wages at least 3 months, and the stage directly after the start of a new firm, owning/managing a new firm and having paid wages in continuity of 42 months (Stephan et al., 2015). In order to form a research sample, data was collected from entrepreneurs who are involved in agro business in Hungary, Slovenia, Romania, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia. In line with the theory, past research and the result of empirical research, we propose a model consisted of determinants that have an influence on early-stage entrepreneurial activity in agro sector in the countries of SEE. In addition to improving theoretical material from the field of entrepreneurship, the model also contributes to this work. This paper is organized as follows. First, theoretical background establishes a variety of national culture and individual entrepreneurial characteristics and its features. Then, we analyse the influence of entrepreneurial aspirations (growth, innovation and internationalization) as determinants that can affect the early-stage entrepreneurial activity in agro sector. Second, the paper provides a presentation of methodology and statistical research result by using Logit regression and concept of marginal effects. The paper ends with a discussion of the results and conclusion about some implications and limitations of this paper, as well as recommendations for future research.