Public Policy and SME Development

Abstract

We review the policy arguments in favour of assisting SMEs in various areas of their operations. Our review suggests that many of the arguments put forward for subsidising SME activities (as distinct from some activities of firms regardless of size) are not economically justified. Nonetheless, it is widely acknowledged that SMEs suffer from disadvantage relative to large firms, principally in the areas of access to information and technology.

When Citizens Are Minority: Toward Establishing A Comprehensive Emirati SME Support System

“…They also think that receiving subsidies could lead to reluctance of SMEs to grow into larger enterprises (so as not to lose support), and thus compromise efficiency standards. They conclude that the role of the state can alternately be "levelling the playing field" by removing obstacles facing SMEs, mainly lack of access to information, and by creating an enabling business environment for all enterprises (see for further discussions, Batra and Mahmood, 2003;Hallberg, 2000;Harvie and Lee, 2003).…”

The impact of manufacturing industries on Ghana’s economy

“…GEDC was set up to assist Ghanaian entrepreneurs to enter into fields where foreigners mainly operated, and also had packages for strengthening small scale industry in general, both technically and financially enterprises (Abor & Quartey, 2010). Though a lot have been put in place to help the sector to thrive, it looks like that has not been enough to create a more conducive environment for manufacturing companies to grow (Kayanula & Quartey, 2000;Harvie & Lee, 2005;Frempong & Essegbey, 2006). Ukpong and Iniodu (1991) are of the view that the infrastructure in some African countries forestalls the growth of manufacturing companies, in many senses.…”

Evolución de las políticas públicas de fomento a las pymes en la Comunidad Andina de Naciones (CAN) y en la Unión Europea (UE): un análisis comparativo

“…Aunque la implementación de políticas de impulso a las pymes varía de un país a otro en función de sus necesidades y características específicas, por lo general dichas políticas tienden a estar alineadas con objetivos macroeconómicos como la creación de empleo, el desarrollo económico y el crecimiento de las exportaciones; con objetivos sociales como la redistribución de la renta o ingreso y el alivio de la pobreza, y con objetivos de eficiencia como la corrección de externalidades, la eliminación de barreras de acceso al mercado, la reducción de las asimetrías de información y la promoción de la innovación (Harvie y Lee, 2003). Países en desarrollo en África, Asia y América Latina están haciendo importantes esfuerzos por desarrollar políticas de fomento para las pymes, mientras que países avanzados como Estados Unidos, Japón y algunos europeos han hecho grandes progresos en este sentido y proporcionado apoyo continuo a iniciativas de desarrollo económico (Kongolo, 2010).…”