Friederike Welter is Professor for SMEs at the University of Siegen and affiliated to the Rhine-Westfalia Institute for Economic Research (RWI Essen), both in Germany. She is also affiliated to the Jönköping International Business School in Sweden. In March 2005, she was awarded the endowed TeliaSonera Professorship for Entrepreneurship at the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga, Latvia. David Smallbone is Professor of Small Business and Entrepreneurship and Associate Director of the Small Business Research Centre (SBRC) at Kingston University, UK. In 2004, he was awarded the degree of doctor honoris causa by the University of Lodz, Poland for his contribution to the study of entrepreneurship. Nina Isakova holds a scientific degree of Candidate of Sciences in Economics from the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. Currently she is a Senior Researcher at the Center for Scientific and Technological Potential and Science History Studies at the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.

'An excellent volume of sound, empirically grounded, original contributions that not only shed light on female entrepreneurship but also provide insightful engagement with the nature of entrepreneurship in a transition context...a timely, valuable book for all those with an interest in entrepreneurship and for policy makers involved in countries at different stages of market reform.' Professor Anne de Bruin, Massey University, New Zealand 'This book reflects the untapped potential of women entrepreneurs in transition economies. Based on strong theory and new empirical results, the authors present data showing how women can fill unique market niches and contribute to economic development. At the same time, this book presents a rich tapestry of stories that highlight the diverse challenges facing individual women entrepreneurs and offers solid suggestions where policies and programs might be modified to ensure the success and contributions of women in transition economies.' Professor Candida G. Brush, Babson College, USA 'This book explores in a unique way women's entrepreneurship in the transition context emphasizing both the heterogeneity of this phenomenon and the influence of the women's role in society on their entrepreneurial behaviour...this is an original, interesting and effective book that represents a valuable contribution to global research in the field of entrepreneurship.' South-Eastern Europe Journal of Economics '...Enterprising Women makes an important contribution by laying the groundwork for future work on gender differences...' Feminist Economics

• Contents: Part 1 Women's Entrepreneurship in a Transition Context - Key Issues: Introduction, Friederike Welter, David Smallbone and Nina Isakova. Part 2 Women's Entrepreneurship in Former Soviet Republics: Entrepreneurship in the Ukraine: a male female comparison, Nina Isakova, Olha Krasovska, Lidia Kavunenko and Alexander Lugovy; Women entrepreneurs between tradition and modernity - the case of Uzbekistan, Friederike Welter, David Smallbone, Damira Mirzakhalikova, Natalja Ju. Schakirova and Charos Maksudova; Women business owners in Moldova: proprietors or entrepreneurs?, Elena Aculai, Nelly Rodionova and Natalia Vinogradova; Djamila's journey from Kolkhoz to Bazaar: female entrepreneurs in Kyrgyzstan, Gül Berna Öczan. Part 3 Women Entrepreneurship in Central Europe: From business ownership to informal market traders: the characteristics of female entrepreneurship in Lithuania, Ruta Aidis; Women entrepreneurs in Slovenia: By Fits and Starts, Mateja DrnovÅ¡ek and Miroslav Glas; West and East German women entrepreneurs: (why) are they still different?, Friederike Welter.Part 4 Policy Issues and Policy Perspectives: Conclusions and policy perspectives, Friederike Welter, David Smallbone and Nina Isakova; Index.

Friederike Welter is Professor for SMEs at the University of Siegen and affiliated to the Rhine-Westfalia Institute for Economic Research (RWI Essen), both in Germany. She is also affiliated to the Jönköping International Business School in Sweden. In March 2005, she was awarded the endowed TeliaSonera Professorship for Entrepreneurship at the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga, Latvia. David Smallbone is Professor of Small Business and Entrepreneurship and Associate Director of the Small Business Research Centre (SBRC) at Kingston University, UK. In 2004, he was awarded the degree of doctor honoris causa by the University of Lodz, Poland for his contribution to the study of entrepreneurship. Nina Isakova holds a scientific degree of Candidate of Sciences in Economics from the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. Currently she is a Senior Researcher at the Center for Scientific and Technological Potential and Science History Studies at the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.

'An excellent volume of sound, empirically grounded, original contributions that not only shed light on female entrepreneurship but also provide insightful engagement with the nature of entrepreneurship in a transition context...a timely, valuable book for all those with an interest in entrepreneurship and for policy makers involved in countries at different stages of market reform.' Professor Anne de Bruin, Massey University, New Zealand 'This book reflects the untapped potential of women entrepreneurs in transition economies. Based on strong theory and new empirical results, the authors present data showing how women can fill unique market niches and contribute to economic development. At the same time, this book presents a rich tapestry of stories that highlight the diverse challenges facing individual women entrepreneurs and offers solid suggestions where policies and programs might be modified to ensure the success and contributions of women in transition economies.' Professor Candida G. Brush, Babson College, USA 'This book explores in a unique way women's entrepreneurship in the transition context emphasizing both the heterogeneity of this phenomenon and the influence of the women's role in society on their entrepreneurial behaviour...this is an original, interesting and effective book that represents a valuable contribution to global research in the field of entrepreneurship.' South-Eastern Europe Journal of Economics '...Enterprising Women makes an important contribution by laying the groundwork for future work on gender differences...' Feminist Economics

• Contents: Part 1 Women's Entrepreneurship in a Transition Context - Key Issues: Introduction, Friederike Welter, David Smallbone and Nina Isakova. Part 2 Women's Entrepreneurship in Former Soviet Republics: Entrepreneurship in the Ukraine: a male female comparison, Nina Isakova, Olha Krasovska, Lidia Kavunenko and Alexander Lugovy; Women entrepreneurs between tradition and modernity - the case of Uzbekistan, Friederike Welter, David Smallbone, Damira Mirzakhalikova, Natalja Ju. Schakirova and Charos Maksudova; Women business owners in Moldova: proprietors or entrepreneurs?, Elena Aculai, Nelly Rodionova and Natalia Vinogradova; Djamila's journey from Kolkhoz to Bazaar: female entrepreneurs in Kyrgyzstan, Gül Berna Öczan. Part 3 Women Entrepreneurship in Central Europe: From business ownership to informal market traders: the characteristics of female entrepreneurship in Lithuania, Ruta Aidis; Women entrepreneurs in Slovenia: By Fits and Starts, Mateja DrnovÅ¡ek and Miroslav Glas; West and East German women entrepreneurs: (why) are they still different?, Friederike Welter.Part 4 Policy Issues and Policy Perspectives: Conclusions and policy perspectives, Friederike Welter, David Smallbone and Nina Isakova; Index.