Entrepreneurial Culture in Transition Economies. The case of Romania and Republic of Moldova

AbstractEntrepreneurship was and still is a key factor of economic growth in emerging economies. In Romania and Republic of Moldova, the relative long tradition of centralized economy has conducted to a lack of entrepreneurial experience, in terms of skills and culture. On one hand, the “starters” of new business had to learn on the run the rules of a new free market, but, on the other hand, they had the advantage of a loose business environment in the early years of transition. In the incipient stage, several discussions were made around the state support, in terms of favorable taxation and other measures meant to consolidate the new start-ups. This is still a disputable point on the agenda of SMEs associations. The paper presents the results of an empirical research among the entrepreneurs from two regions, one of Romania and one of Republic of Moldova. The results are centralized in a comparative approach and are presenting relevant characteristics of business development in both countries, together with the entrepreneurs ‘perception on factors that have influenced in a positive or negative way their success