How Digital Are Albanian Enterprises: A Microeconomic Analyses
Abstract
This paper focuses on the analyses of the digitalization of enterprises and its performance impact in Albania. Using data from 2019 Enterprise Surveys (ES) we try to give answer questions related to digitalization that characterize Albanian enterprises. The survey was a shared project of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European Investment Bank (EIB), and the World Bank Group (WBG). The data are collected in Albania between January and May 2019. The objective of the survey is to better understand firms` experience in the private sector. Collected data are based on firms’ experiences and perceptions of the environment in which they operate. The paper uses these specific questions to study Internet adoption. ES questionnaires focus on the following questions: (1) Does the firm have a high-speed Internet connection on its premises? (2) Does the establishment have its website? The dependent variable is the performance of the firms measured in terms of sales growth and labor productivity, while the vector of independent variables is composed of enterprise characteristics such as firm size, ownership structure, legal status, region, etc. Moreover, dummy variables are used to capture access to formal banking services and gender ownership.
Keywords: |
Information; Firm Performance; Entrepreneurship; Digitalization
|
Full Text: |
References
Abedini, L. V., & Hani, R. Z. (2017). Challenges of ICT Approval in Small And Medium Enterprises in the Republic of Albania. UBT Proceedings, 43–48.
Arvin, M., & Pradhan, R. (2014). Broadband penetration and economic growth nexus: Evidence from cross-country panel data. Journal of Applied Economics, 35(46), 4360–4369.
Balla, R. (2020). Digitalization of Financial Services in Albania Under Restricted Measures Covid-19. European Journal of Marketing and Economics, II(3), 17–31.
Bekteshi, L., & Bekteshi, J. (2017). Use of ICT and development of tourism sector in Albania. European Scientific Journal, 13(25), 138–149.
Bertschek, I., Cerquera, D., & Klein, G. J. (2013). More bits–more bucks? Measuring the impact of broadband internet on firm performance. Information Economics and Policy, III(25), 190–203.
Clarke, G. R., Qiang, C. Z., & Xu, L. C. (2015). The Internet as a general-purpose technology: Firm-level evidence from around the world. Economics Letters, 135, 24–27.
Clarke, R. G. (2008). Has the Internet Increased Exports for Firms from Low and Middle-Income Countries? Information Economics and Policy, I(20), 16–37.
Clarke, R. G., & Wallsten, S. J. (2006). Has the Internet Increased Trade? Developed and Developing Country Evidence. Economic Inquiry, III(44), 465–84.
Curraj, E. (2017). Business Digitalization in Albania: Where do SMEs Stand? European Journal of Economics and Business Studies, I(3), 148–152.
Ferro, E. (2011). Signaling and Technological Marketing Tools for Exporters. World Bank Policy Research Working Paper 5547, WB.
Gërguri‐Rashiti, S., Ramadani, V., Abazi‐Alili, H., Dana, L. P., & & Ratten, V. (2017). ICT, innovation and firm performance: the transition economies context. Thunderbird International Business Review, I(59), 93–102.
Gosavi, A. (2017). Use of the Internet and its impact on productivity and sales growth in female-owned firms: Evidence from India. Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Innovation, II(13), 155–178.
INSTAT. (2020). Usage of Information and Communication Technologies in Enterprises. Republika e Shqipërisë: Instituti i Statistikave.
Kalaj, E., & Merko, F. (2020). Analyses of Financial Obstacles Facing SME-S: Evidence from Albania. Scientific Papers, I(43), 117–121.
Karakara, A. A., & Osabuohien, E. (2020). ICT adoption, competition and innovation of informal firms in West Africa: a comparative study of Ghana and Nigeria. Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy, 397–414.
Katz, R., Vaterlaus, S., Zenhausern, P., & Suter, S. (2012). The impact of broadband on jobs and the German economy. Intereconomics, I(45), 26–34.
Kordha, E., Gorica, K., & Sevrani, K. (2019). The Importance of Digitalization for Sustainable Cultural Heritage Sites in Albania. Cultural Sustainable Tourism, 91–97.
Noti, E., & Tartaraj, A. (2016). E-commerce as an Added Value in the Tourism Services in Albania. Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, I(5), 324–329.
Pano, N., & Gjika, I. (2020). Our Way Towards the Integration of Digital Technology. Journal of International Cooperation and Development, I(3), 19–25.
Tolica, E. K., Sevrani, K., & Gorica, K. (2015). Albanian Situation Related to the Factors for ICT Development. In Information Society Development through ICT Market Strategies, Springer, Cham, 67–83.
WB. (2019). Albania 2019 ES Implementation Report. Washington : World Bank.
DOI: 10.7250/scee.2021.0001
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
Copyright (c) 2021 Ermira Kalaj, Flora Merko
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.