The Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on the Situation of Micro, Small, and Medium Sized Enterprises in the Transport Sector in Poland

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to analyze the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the situation of MSMEs in the transportation sector. To achieve the goal, the following research questions were posed: 1) what sources of funding were most often used by entrepreneurs to mitigate the impact of pandemic Covid-19? 2) what forms of support were most frequently used by entrepreneurs during the Covid 19 pandemic? 3) what are the biggest risks for MSMEs in the transportation sector? 4) What was the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the business of MSMEs in the transportation sector? Design/Methodology/Approach: In order to realize the goal, set in the introduction and answer the research questions, the results of a survey conducted using the CATI method on a sample of 400 randomly selected micro, small and medium-sized enterprises operating in the transport and storage sector from across Poland were used. The proprietary survey was conducted between December 2021 and February 2022. Findings: Within the framework of the research conducted, it is possible to list the most important effects of the Covid-19 pandemic affecting the situations of MSMEs in the transportation sector, these are: changes in the business environment of companies (functioning of markets, effects of restrictions and lockdowns); changes in the business model (response to a decline in demand, disrupted supply chains), issues of resilience of companies to changing economic conditions (e.g., maintaining liquidity), and acceleration of digital transformation (among other things, posting employees to work remotely). Practical Implications: This study can provide important information in the policy-making process, both in regulatory aspects and in providing liquidity of operation for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the transportation sector. It can also provide guidance for the future in terms of evaluating the use of applied relief instruments in subsequent crises caused by similar phenomena as the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition, the prepared article adds to the literature on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the situation of MSMEs in the transportation sector. Originality value: The article contains the results of primary research on the impact of pandemic Covid-19 on the situation of micro, small and medium enterprises in the transportation sector. The literature lacks considerations relating to the impact of pandemic Covid-19 on MSMEs in the transportation sector.