Analysis of the Situation and Factors for Development of SMEs in Bulgaria 2011-2012: Economic Recovery and Competitiveness (original) (raw)

2013, Social Science Research Network

The present analysis is an update of the publication-Analysis of the Situation and Factors for Development of SMEs in Bulgaria (SMEs in the Crisis Context)‖ made last year. The analysis for 2011-2012 has been elaborated for the purposes and needs of the Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency (BSMEPA). BSMEPA is responsible for the implementation of national policies in the area of small and medium-size enterprises. It participates in the elaboration and execution of the measures set in the annual programmes for the implementation of the National Small and Medium-size Development Promotion Strategy. The situation in the SME sector has been reviewed basically for the period 2009-2012. The standard statistical indicators of the sector, published by the NSI, have been complemented by a national representative sociological survey of the SMEs conducted in March 2012. For the purposes of the analysis, data from other sources, as well as statistics and reports concerning the SMEs in the EU, have also been used. The update includes hot topics, which are of considerable importance for the economic recovery and sustainability of the SME sector. The time period covered by the analysis coincides with the recovery of the world and European economies from the financial and economic crisis. Therefore, the economic recovery of Bulgarian SMEs today, and their competitiveness stand in the main focus of the document. The analysis also contains one new topic related to the issue of sustainability of the SME sector, more specifically the issue of family business inheritance. Among the main questions whose answers the analysis seeks to find are:-What happens with the SME sector today?- ,-Which are the enterprises that manage to recover from the crisis?- ,-Which are the factors for development and competitiveness that are of the greatest importance to the successful economic performance of the Bulgarian SMEs today?-, etc. The answers to those questions could facilitate the process of formulation of adequate policies to stimulate the SME sector in the medium and long run.