The Effect of COVID-19 on Small Businesses in Greece
Abstract
The ongoing global public health crisis has disrupted the free flow of commercial activities in every aspect of human life. The aim of this study is to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on small businesses, by focusing on a case study of Greece. Based on the interpretivist philosophy, the study adopts a qualitative approach and explores various operational and financial issues that have affected small businesses since the outbreak of the pandemic. Data was collected from a sample of three small-business managers recruited from a coffee shop, a beauty salon, and a food factory to complete a questionnaire. Findings show that the three small businesses in Greece experienced a reduction of customers and thereby revenues, despite maintaining their usual suppliers. While they experienced fluctuating operating expenses and taxes, the businesses received little or no financial support from the government during the period studied. In addition, the businesses endeavored to adhere to lockdown, curfew, and social distancing guidelines, which affected them further. Moreover, the study finds the businesses had inadequate resources for crisis management. The study recommends follow-on research use larger samples in a quantitative approach to increase the accuracy of findings.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2021
- Accession Number
- AD1151088
Entities
People
- Anastasios Mylonas
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School