Theory and Empirical Evidence of Business Support Networks

Business firms operate in a certain environment in which they interact with one another, with individuals, governmental organisations, financial institutions and various other interest groups. Operation of respective economic and social networks (both voluntary and private market determined) may have an important effect on the overall business environment. This paper presents and analyses some results of the special sample survey of Estonian firms undertaken in 1994-2003. Our main attention in this paper is focused on business supporting services provided by various institutions and on the operation of disputesí resolution mechanism, using the concept of social networks. It is argued that the state enforcement mechanism is working weakly in the still unstable legal environment and firms have to use different self-enforcement mechanisms (through social networks) to resolve disputes. Social networks are also used for obtaining additional financing for investment. The success of the operation of social networks depends on the government economic policy.