Small and Medium-sized Enterprises: Local …

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Policy BriefOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and Development OECD 2000June 2000SummarySmall and Medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) account for over 95% of firmsand 60%-70% of employment and generate a large share of new jobs in OECDeconomies. They have specific strengths and weaknesses that may require spe-cial policy responses. As new technologies and globalisation reduce theimportance of economies of scale in many activities, the potential contribu-tion of smaller firms is enhanced. However, many of the traditional problemsfacing SMEs lack of financing, difficulties in exploiting technology, con-strained managerial capabilities, low productivity, regulatory burdens become more acute in a globalised, technology-driven firms need to upgrade their management skills, their capacity to gatherinformation and their technology base.

3 Policy Brief Small and Medium-sized Enterprises: Local Strength, Global Reach munications and business services, and construction. SMEs also account

  Medium, Enterprise, Small, Sized, Small and medium sized enterprises