Youth digital-social entrepreneurship in the post-Socialist context: A comparative case study of Kosovo and Slovenia

Whiteman, Georgina 2024. Youth digital-social entrepreneurship in the post-Socialist context: A comparative case study of Kosovo and Slovenia. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University. Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

There is a growing interest in youth digital-social entrepreneurship in the European policymaking landscape due to the opportunities it offers for tackling youth unemployment and offering solutions to some of the global challenges outlined by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. For post-socialist economies, there is an even greater call for development of youth entrepreneurship due to the unique challenges that young people face entering employment in these countries. This thesis investigated the experiences of young digital-social entrepreneurs in two post-socialist countries, Kosovo, and Slovenia, in order to understand the antecedents and barriers of youth digital-social entrepreneurship. A qualitative approach was adopted, comprising a series of semi-structured interviews, to generate understanding of the experiences of young digital-social entrepreneurs in both countries. This thesis reveals that young digital-social entrepreneurs are intrinsically motivated by the desire to make social change, but with key differences. Young digital-social entrepreneurs in Kosovo are motivated by their local environment and the problems encountered day-to-day, whilst young digital-social entrepreneurs in Slovenia are motivated by global challenges and desire a greater international impact. In both countries, young digital-social entrepreneurs are constrained by financial barriers, lack of social support and a weak policy environment. Young women digital-social entrepreneurs face a double disadvantage of being young and female, and experienced gendered barriers to entrepreneurship – relating to the perceived legitimacy of their entrepreneurial ability. The findings draw attention to the particular challenges experienced by young digital-social entrepreneurs, and the ways in which formal and informal institutions in post-socialist countries can constrain innovation. The thesis emphasises the importance of strengthening the provision of support arrangements within the entrepreneurial ecosystem of each country, as well as the value in developing a more supportive social entrepreneurship policy in each country. The current policies in place need to be extended to better define social entrepreneurship and to provide incentives and financial support, in order to better diversify the economy and tackle societal challenges.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Date Type:	Completion
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Social Sciences (Includes Criminology and Education)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	29 November 2024
Last Modified:	29 Nov 2024 11:53
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/174399

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