This book provides a detailed analysis of how and why firms from economies in transition internationalize and examines the effects of domestic politico-economic factors on this process.Transition economies undergo economic liberalization, which enables market forces to set prices. The economic transition process is usually characterized by significant changes in the role of the state and the creation and promotion of privately owned enterprises, markets and independent financial institutions. With the opening of the domestic economy, and integration into the international economy, domestic firms have an opportunity to explore international markets, which was impossible under previous regimes. This book provides insights into these phenomena and investigates the impact that these changes have had on firm internationalization. This book is an essential resource for academics and students of strategic management, international business and business studies. It also has significant value for practitioners and policy-makers in that it will highlight important factors in a firm's politico-economic environment that either stimulate or impede firm internationalization from emerging markets and will discuss important managerial and policy implications. Contributors: P.D. Aligica, A.R. Anderson, V. Andonova, M. Bahl, P. Berdyshev, M. Brahem, M. Crone, A. Gevorkyan, V. Golikova, M. Gorynia, S. El Harbi, P. Karhunen, R. Kosonen, O. Linchevskaya, D. Makhmadshoev, A.I. Mockaitis, J. Nowak, A. Pobol, D. Pollard, A. Sauka, Y. Shaleva, I. Simberova, M. Slonimska, A. Slonimski, D. Smallbone, V. Tarko, M.T.T. Thai, P. Trapczynski, E. Turkina, A. W sowska, F. Welter, R. Wolniak, E. Zankina, P. Zettinig

Although entrepreneurship in the informal economy occurs outside state regulatory systems, informal commercial activities account for an estimated 30% of economic activity around the world. Informal entrepreneurship goes unmonitored despite the fact that it significantly contributes to poverty reduction and economic development. As a result, the informal sector is open to unethical practices including corruption, worker exploitation, and natural environment abuse to name just a few. In the media, debates have formed around whether informal entrepreneurship should be assisted or legitimized. Hence, a deep understanding of the phenomenon is vitally important.

This book is the first on the market to offer models and approaches to informal entrepreneurship as well as to its prospects for economic development. Offering an in-depth examination of informal entrepreneurship in many different countries, it reveals the motivations for engaging in entrepreneurship in the informal economy, characteristics of informal entrepreneurship, and informal entrepreneurs' response to ethical issues. This volume illustrates the relationship between formal and informal economies and the conditions for the benefits of informal entrepreneurship to outweigh its disadvantages. And finally, it gives recommendations about when and how the informal economy can be formalized, which sectors should be formalized, and which ones can remain informal. This book offers much-needed guidance for stakeholders involved in economic development programs and scholars and entrepreneurs interested in the field of informal entrepreneurship as it is developing around the globe.