Changes of Enterprises Sector in the Baltic States in The Period of the Covid-19 Pandemic and of the Russian-Ukrainian War

Abstract

Goal – An attempt to assess the trends of changes in the number and structure of Baltic enterprises by employment, turnover and for selected industries during the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russian-Ukrainian war. Industries most affected by changes due to the pandemic crisis and war were selected for evaluation. Research methodology – To assess the implications of Covid-19 and the Russian-Ukrainian war on the number and structure of enterprises in the analysed countries and in selected industries, a benchmarking method was applied for the period 2019–2023 according to a number of indicators. Changes in the Baltic countries’ trade with Russia in the context of the introduced sanctions and restrictions were also examined. Score/results – The introduced lockdowns and economic sanctions against Russia have caused significant changes in both the number of enterprises and their structure. The analysis showed that micro-enterprises in the Baltic States proved to be more resilient to external shocks and more flexible in adapting their activities to the new realities. The shares of industry and trade have shrunk, while IT, education and health have increased. Originality/value – The analysis carried out in the article allows for the identification of quantitative and qualitative changes in the business sector of the Baltic States and thus contributes to the scientific discussion on this topic. The research can be considered preliminary due to the too short research period, requiring further development.