Small business

FUTURE OBJECTIVES 
Objective: To demonstrate clear and specific links between the government’s national economic and social objectives
and SME development. 
The government’s overall national objectives, such as:
• Fostering economic growth and productivity;
• Creating employment;
• Improving international trade performance and competitiveness;
• Remedying any imbalances in economic and social development including poverty alleviation.
And the key areas for SME development, including:
• The creation of an enterprise culture;
• More and better quality business starts (and associated higher survival rates);
• Performance of the existing business stock;
• Creation of an empathetic entrepreneurial environment.
While providing this link between general and SME objectives may appear complex, it is critical in
demonstrating the relevance and coherence of SME policy. In many transition economies it is not uncommon
to find long lists of small enterprise development projects without any clear linkage to major national
goals. 
Analyses of the above do not need to be included in full, but the results must be summarised. This
summary of the (lack of) links can take the form of a table, as shown below.
EFFECTIVE POLICIES FOR SMALL BUSINESS - © OECD 2004