Supporting Women Entrepreneurs in Transitioning Economies

Since the implementation of the Belcerowicz plan as part of Poland's transition to a free market economy in 1990, the country's economy has made great strides. This economic progress at the macro level however was accompanied by systematic discrimination towards women, resulting in economic hardships. Gender specific discriminatory legislations enacted in the 1960s and the 1970s combined with a number of social factors prevented women's access to high paying jobs and a dominant role in the business industry. The economic transition in the 1990s, however, saw a large growth of the private sector in Poland, with women starting many small firms although the distribution of benefits has largely been unequal. There is a real need for supporting women entrepreneurs. A review of past research reveals both a lack of government support for entrepreneurs in general, and differences in the needs of female and male entrepreneurs. In order to offer unbiased recommendations to the Polish Association of Women Entrepreneurs and other support groups, twelve existing women organizations were surveyed and this information was used to establish best practice guidelines for such groups.(VRS)