FIRM PERFORMANCE, INNOVATION AND MARKET DYNAMICS: EVIDENCE FROM TURKISH AND MOLDOVA SMES
LAMIHA ÖZTÜRK
, Ankara Medipol University, Turkey
ORCID: 0000-0001-9724-5060
Email: lamiha.ozturk@ankaramedipol.edu.tr
LICA ERHAN
, Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova Republic of Moldova
ORCID: 0000-0001-5204-6367
Email: lica.erhan@ase.md
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24818/cike2025.92
Pages: 737–740
Abstract
This study aims to examine the impact of administrative, financial, and fiscal constraints on the ability of Turkish and Moldova firms to innovate, invest, and enhance their productivity in 2024. Within this framework, an analysis was conducted using data from the World Bank’s Enterprise Surveys, based on a representative sample of 1,416 firms in Turkey. Building on these results, a comparison was made between the performance of Turkish SMEs and the obstacles they face, relative to those observed in the Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region. Similar, to analyze the performance of Moldova SMEs we used statistical data and the latest data from business surveys to assess challenges that small business sector is facing through the perception of entrepreneurs.
In this regard, recommendations for strengthening SMEs economic potential will be drawn up.
Keywords: SMEs, Access to Finance, Multilevel modeling, Endogenous innovation, Productivity Gap.
JEL Classification: C21, H25, L25, G30, O31.
References
- Erhan L., Fostering small business development in Moldova through innovative policies International Scientific Conference ”Development through research and innovation” IDSC 2025,, pag 543-548, https://scldoct.ase.md/files/conferinte/idsc/Proceedings_IDSC_2025_r2.pdf
- Ozturk, L., Erhan, L. (2024). Effects and Impact of COVID-19 on Global Finance and Economies. In: Ozturk, L., Bayrak, R., Erhan, L. (eds) SMEs in Agriculture and Food Industry During the Health Crises. Studies in Systems, Decision and Control, vol 576. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-77286-3_2
- European Commission Report on Moldova, 2023/2024, https://enlargement.ec.europa.eu/moldova-report-2024_en
- National Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Moldova, https://statistica.gov.md/index.php?l=en. Last accessed 15 September 2025.
- World Bank Enterprise Surveys, enterprisesurveys.org
