Protocol for a Systematic Review: The Impacts of Business Support Services for Small and Medium Enterprises on Firm Performance in Low‐and Middle‐Income Countries: A Systematic Review

Gonzalez, Lauro; Piza, Caio; Cravo, Túlio; Abdelnour, Samer; Taylor, Linnet

doi:10.1002/cl2.130

Cited by 5 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…This analysis is complemented with meta‐regressions ( metareg command in Stata) controlling for some moderating factors, such as region fixed effects, firm size, and risk of bias 35 . These moderator variables were identified in the study protocol (Gonzalez et al 2014). We decided to present forest plots only for outcomes that had at least four ES.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…During the conduct of this review, we made changes to the inclusion criteria and analysis which represent deviations from the Campbell Collaboration protocol (Gonzalez et al 2014). These are outlined in more detail below.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Further, Bruhn and McKenzie (2013) show that despite interventions to promote registration and formalization, a majority of SMEs remain informal. These results are surprising, given that the SME sector is one of the main targets of international and national aid agencies (Cravo et al, 2014). This research fills part of this gap through a systematic summarizing of all available rigorous evaluations of SME support services, and communicating their results to policymakers working on SME‐related issues worldwide.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A seminal study using a cross‐section of countries to analyse SMEs and economic growth was provided by Beck et al (2005), who found a positive but not causal relationship between them. An exploration of other available empirical evidence however, shows that while studies that focus on developed nations suggest a positive impact of SMEs and entrepreneurship on economic growth, studies examining developing countries suggest a negative impact (for example, Audretsch and Keilbach, 2004; Mueller, 2007; Cravo 2010; Cravo et al, 2012; Cravo et al, 2014). 2 Acs et al (2008) have attributed these differences in empirical results to different entrepreneurship responses to institutional arrangements).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Impact of Business Support Services for Small and Medium Enterprises on Firm Performance in Low‐ and Middle‐Income Countries: A Systematic Review

Piza¹,

Cravo²,

Taylor³

et al. 2016

Campbell Systematic Reviews

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This Campbell systematic review assesses the effects of business support services in low‐ and middle‐income countries on firm performance and economic development. The review summarizes findings from 40 studies. Included studies examine interventions targeted at SMEs (two to 250 employees) involving tax simplification, exports and access to external markets; support for innovation policies; support to local production systems; training and technical assistance, and SME financing and credit guarantee programmes. Findings from 40 studies are summarised in the review. These studies present evidence from 18 low‐ and middle‐income countries, with 26 studies analysing programmes in Latin America, six from Asia and five from Africa. On average, business support to SMEs improves their performance, their ability to create jobs, their labour productivity and their ability to invest. The effects on innovation are unclear. Matching grants, technical assistance and tax simplification programmes improve firms' performance and job creation; with technical assistance also improving labour productivity. Export promotion and innovation programmes positively affect exports and innovation, but there is no evidence that they improve performance or job creation. However, the effects of the programmes studied are not very large. Most studies do not include the required data to assess if the programmes are cost effective. Plain language summary BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICES TO SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES SEEM TO IMPROVE FIRM PERFORMANCEThe Campbell review in briefSupport to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can improve their revenue and profits, their ability to create jobs, labour productivity and their ability to invest. But these effects are not large, and the cost effectiveness of the interventions not known. The effects on innovation are unclear.What is this review about?Large amounts of funding are going towards programmes to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in low‐ and middle‐income countries in order to increase revenue and profits, generate employment, and, so, create economic growth and reduce poverty.The Campbell review summarizes evidence of the impact of these programmes on measures of SME performance including revenues, profits, and productivity, as well as the firms' ability to generate employment and their labour productivity.What are the main findings of this review?What studies are included?Included studies examine interventions targeted at SMEs (two to 250 employees) involving tax simplification, exports and access to external markets; support for innovation policies; support to local production systems; training and technical assistance, and SME financing and credit guarantee programmes.Findings from 40 studies are summarised in the review. These studies present evidence from 18 low‐ and middle‐income countries, with 26 studies analysing programmes in Latin America, six from Asia and five from Africa.Do business support services work?On average, business support to SMEs improves their performance, their abi...

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Impact of Business Support Services for Small and Medium Enterprises on Firm Performance in Low‐ and Middle‐Income Countries: A Systematic Review

Piza¹,

Cravo²,

Taylor³

et al. 2016

Campbell Systematic Reviews

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“…On-going review Gonzalez, Piza, Taylor, Cravo and Abdelnour (2013) will explore the impact of business support services, both direct and indirect, for small and medium-sized enterprises on firm performance in low-and middle-income countries. The review promises a rigorous search methodology as well as insights into the impact of such services in Africa, which will be of particular interest to this review.…”

Section: Reviews Looking At Labour Market Regulations Not Focusing Omentioning

confidence: 99%

PROTOCOL: Interventions to Improve Labour Market Outcomes of Youth: A Systematic Review of Active Labour Market Programmes

Kluve

Puerto

Stoeterau

et al. 2014

Campbell Systematic Reviews

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Impact of public intervention on micro and small enterprises performance in Ethiopia

Yonis¹,

Woldehanna

Amha³

2018

IJOEM

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Purpose The effectiveness of any government interventions to support small firms is always a concern in achieving improvements in enterprise performances. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate thoroughly the impact of micro and small enterprises’ (MSEs’) support programs on core intermediate and final outcomes of interest. Design/methodology/approach The impact evaluation employs a non-parametric matching procedure for parametric outcome analysis using the propensity score matching (PSM) method. Aiming at a doubly robust evaluation process, the study applies parametric analyses than non-parametric permutation-based tests to investigate the causal effects of the public intervention. Findings The study reveals that the public intervention encouraged MSEs to develop innovative business practices and improve their human capital development process. Moreover, the intervention had a positive effect in expanding employment opportunities in urban areas. Contrariwise, the study shows that support beneficiaries are not at an advantage in investment intensity. The lower level of investment intensity on fixed capital resulted inefficiency among the recipients. Moreover, the intervention did not have an effect on changing the net-asset over time for the recipients. Practical implications This study implies that the support programs need to be dynamic and also targets on creating innovative high-growth MSEs. Originality/value This paper is fairly original and provides policy makers and MSE promoters/facilitators evidence-based information on the effectiveness of the support services, with looking at firm-level analysis.

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Protocol for a Systematic Review: The Impacts of Business Support Services for Small and Medium Enterprises on Firm Performance in Low‐and Middle‐Income Countries: A Systematic Review

Cited by 5 publications

References 59 publications

The Impact of Business Support Services for Small and Medium Enterprises on Firm Performance in Low‐ and Middle‐Income Countries: A Systematic Review

The Impact of Business Support Services for Small and Medium Enterprises on Firm Performance in Low‐ and Middle‐Income Countries: A Systematic Review

PROTOCOL: Interventions to Improve Labour Market Outcomes of Youth: A Systematic Review of Active Labour Market Programmes

Impact of public intervention on micro and small enterprises performance in Ethiopia

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