Big Business of Small Enterprises

A central challenge is to level the economic playing field by ensuring dynamic markets; strengthening market-support institutions; and removing constraints to participation. IEG found that financial sector development can have both a pro-growth and pro-poor impact by alleviating SMEs' financing constraints, enabling new entry of firms and entrepreneurs and better resource allocation. Layered on top of this are targeted forms of assistance; these interventions may build on a foundation of more systemic reforms, may come in tandem with them, or may in fact be a means to build systemic reforms from the bottom up.Any credible justification of targeted support to SMEs must be focused on establishing well-functioning markets and institutions, not simply providing a temporary supply of benefits to a small group of firms during a project's lifespan. Thus, targeted interventions need to leverage resources to produce broader benefits for institutions and markets.To make targeted support for SMEs more effective, the World Bank Group needs to do several things:Clarify its approach to targeted support to SMEs.Enhance the support's relevance and additionality.Institute a tailored research agenda.Strengthen guidance and quality control for such support.Reform MIGA's Small Investment Program.