Small, Medium, Strong. Trends in SME Performance and Business Conditions
SMEs and entrepreneurs play a key role in national economies around the world, generating employment and income, contributing to innovation and knowledge diffusion, responding to new or niched demands and social needs, and enhancing social inclusion. However, SMEs are often more affected by business environment conditions and structural policies than larger firms.
This report presents comparative evidence on SME performance and trends, and on a broad range of policy areas and business environment conditions that are important for small businesses. The analysis takes into account the multi-dimensionality of SME policy objectives and the significant heterogeneity of the SME population, within and across countries. Data and indicators on framework conditions are complemented with information on recent policy trends in OECD countries. This publication addresses a growing demand by governments for tools to monitor the business environment for small and medium-sized enterprises, and benchmark the effectiveness of policies in creating appropriate conditions for them to flourish and grow.
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SME access to resources
This chapter discusses access to strategic resources by SMEs, including finance, human resources and skills, knowledge, technology and innovation, and energy. It comments on the relevance of these resources for small business creation and growth, highlights key challenges for SMEs’ effective access and use, and presents comparative evidence on SME access and conditions for use across OECD countries. The chapter also provides a description of recent policy trends to enhance SME access to finance, skills development, innovation and energy efficiency.
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