OECD SME and Entrepreneurship Outlook 2005
Encouraging entrepreneurship and facilitating the rapid growth of innovative SMEs is an effective means of creating jobs, increasing productivity and alleviating poverty. This publication describes recent trends concerning SMEs and entrepreneurship in OECD economies and beyond. It reports on a range of policy initiatives taken to enhance the vitality and competitiveness of the SME sector—which comprises over 95% of all enterprises and accounts for two thirds of private sector employment. Among the themes covered in this edition are regulatory and administrative burdens; entrepreneurship education and training; SME access to financing, technology, innovation and international markets; women’s entrepreneurship; and local policy issues. This third edition also includes the Istanbul Ministerial Declaration on Fostering the Growth of Innovative and Internationally Competitive SMEs.
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Executive Summary
Since the last edition of the OECD SME Outlook (2002), SMEs and entrepreneurship have continued to be a key source of dynamism, innovation and flexibility. It is worth recalling that SMEs account for over 95% of manufacturing enterprises and an even higher share in many service industries in OECD countries. Also, in most economies SMEs generate two-thirds of private sector employment and are the principal creator of jobs. In recent years, SME numbers appear to have grown at a faster rate than the overall enterprise population boosting the SME employment share. Although women represent a minority of those who are self-employed, women-owned SMEs have shown vibrant growth in a number of countries, notably in the United States and Canada.
Also available in: French
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