Publisher's Synopsis
The most popular panacea for economic rejuvenation is the harnessing of the entrepreneurial spirit of small firm owners. The theory behind this is that flexible small companies can counter the supposed ?dead hand? of big business and generate jobs and income. They not only provide wealth for successful risk takers, but also bring prosperity for local economies. But which analysis shows that successful cases are really transportable among regions and countries? What are the dynamics of small firms in the semi-peripheral countries of Europe? This book reveals the characteristics of small firms in three medium-sized cities in Turkey in the context of the Southern European semi-periphery. By studying the economics, the anthropology, and the entrepreneurial dynamics of small business in four sectors, consumer durable retailers, foodstuffs wholesaling, machinery manufacturing and housing construction, this analysis tests various assumptions about small business survival and growth.
