engleski

Croatian Elites, Enterprises and Economic Crisis: Searching For the New Growth Drivers

Since the fall of the iron curtain Croatia has experienced very turbulent times: the war for independence, transformation of old social, political and economic system into the capitalist one, rise of new political and economic elite, short period of economic growth (2002-2008) and a comprehensive and a long-term economic crisis (2009 and after). Why the present economic crisis (deep recession) is lasting so long and why political and economic elites have not till today offered a viable anti-crisis economic policy? How national SME's and their owners/managers behave under the pressures of economic crisis? Do Croatian SME's have real economic and managerial potential for overcoming present de-growth condition? In this paper we will present some basic development dilemmas the enduring economic crisis in Croatia brought to national political and economic elites (wider: to Croatian educated public) and two hypotheses regarding the lack of modern economic growth. The first hypothesis is based on new economic research insights and claims that new economic growth is possible if only the overall mobility (of capital, people, resources, etc…) could be achieved in a reasonable time period. The second hypothesis is based on recent sociological insights and claims that new economic growth assumes innovative/ different role of political parties (state) in the creation of economic opportunities, new social contract with economic elite and new modes of legitimation of capitalist order within the country. Trying to illustrate the mentioned development dilemmas and hypotheses, the paper will bring empirical data from different sources (from national statistics to available research and analytical sources). Viewing from the thematic perspective, the following topics will be included into the paper: key characteristics of the Croatian SME sector, the impact of the crisis on the structure and dynamic of SME sector, Croatian enterprises and anti-crisis strategies, the growth aspirations of local entrepreneurs (GEM project data) and discussion on new growth drivers, problems of development management and social fragmentation of elites.

Croatian Elites; Enterprises; Economic Crisis; New Growth Drivers

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