Abstract
Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) are recognized the world over as a tool for economic growth and development. They provide a creative channel for enterprising and project independent persons for self-employment. However, many factors have hindered SMEs from significantly contributing to economies and these range from policy, access to finance and resources, competencies, etc. The chapter explores the critical factors through which SMEs contribute directly to key indicators of economic growth, including GDP, national income, employment opportunities, and how policy mechanisms stimulate economic growth. The case of Pad-Up Creations Ltd. illustrates these, and policy and other recommendations to help SMEs spur economic growth are discussed. The chapter contributes to the knowledge-based view of economic growth and SMEs. We also consider SMEs’ strengths and limitations and argue that their impact will be more positive, especially on the national economy, if they have the right policy environment and other support services.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Acs, Z. J., & Szerb, L. (2007). Entrepreneurship, economic growth and public policy. Small Business Economics, 28(2), 109–122.
Arbelo, A., Pérez-Gómez, P., & Arbelo-Pérez, M. (2018). Estimating efficiency and its determinants in the hotel sector using a profit function. Current Issues in Tourism, 21(8), 863–876.
Aremu, M. A., & Adeyemi, S. L. (2011). Small and medium scale enterprises as a survival strategy for employment generation in Nigeria. Journal of Sustainable Development, 4(1), 200.
Armeanu, D., Istudor, N., & Lache, L. (2015). The role of SMEs in assessing the contribution of entrepreneurship to GDP in the Romanian business environment. Amfiteatru Economics, 17, 195–211.
Audretsch, D. B. (2007). Entrepreneurship capital and economic growth. Oxford Review of Economic Policy, 23(1), 63–78.
Audretsch, D. B., Heger, D., & Veith, T. (2015). Infrastructure and entrepreneurship. Small Business Economics, 44(2), 219–230.
Banking Association South Africa. (2015). SME enterprise. http://www.banking.org.za/what-wedo/inclusive-economy/sme/sme-enterprise. 5 July 2021.
Barro, R. J. (1991). Economic growth in a cross section of countries. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 106(2), 407–443.
Bello, A., Jibir, A., & Ahmed, I. (2018). Impact of small and medium scale enterprises on economic growth: Evidence from Nigeria. Global Journal of Economics and Business, 4(2), 236–244.
Belu, M. G., Popa, I., & Filip, R. (2018). The impact of globalisation on small and medium enterprises: The Romanian experience. Romanian Economic Journal, 21(70), 42–51.
Cantele, S., Vernizzi, S., & Campedelli, B. (2020). Untangling the origins of sustainable commitment: New insights on the small vs. large firms’ debate. Sustainability, 12, 671.
Crawford, C., Crawford, R., & Jin, W. (2013). The outlook for higher education spending by the department for business, innovation and skills (No. R86). IFS Report.
Davies, R. (2012). SMEs play vital role in creating employment. http://www.entrepreneurmag.co.za/entrepreneur-today/smes-play-vital-role-in-creatingemployment/. 6 July 2021.
D’Imperio, R. (2015). Growing the global economy through SMEs. http://www.edinburghgroup.org/media/2776/edinburgh_group_research_growing_the_global_economy_through_smes.pdf. 5 July 2021.
Dowling, M., O’Gorman, C., Puncheva, P., & Vanwalleghem, D. (2019). Trust and SME attitudes towards equity financing across Europe. Journal of World Business, 54(6), 101003.
Etuk, R. U., Etuk, G. R., & Michael, B. (2014). Small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) and Nigeria’s economic development. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 5(7), 656.
Exposito, A., & Sanchis-Llopis, J. A. (2019). The relationship between types of innovation and SMEs’ performance: A multi-dimensional empirical assessment. Eurasian Business Review, 9(2), 115–135.
Gherghina, Ș C., Botezatu, M. A., Hosszu, A., & Simionescu, L. N. (2020). Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs): The engine of economic growth through investments and innovation. Sustainability, 12(1), 347.
Gupta, J., & Gregoriou, A. (2018). Impact of market-based finance on SMEs failure. Economic Modelling, 69, 13–25.
Hashi, I., & Krasniqi, B. A. (2011). Entrepreneurship and SME growth: Evidence from advanced and laggard transition economies. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, 17(5), 456–487.
Ilegbinosa, I. A., & Jumbo, E. (2015). Small and medium scale enterprises and economic growth in Nigeria: 1975–2012. International Journal of Business and Management, 10(3), 203.
Kadiri, I. B. (2012). Small and medium scale enterprises and employment generation in Nigeria: The role of finance. Kuwait Chapter of the Arabian Journal of Business and Management Review, 1(9), 79.
Kappel, R. T., & Ishengoma, E. K. (2006). Economic growth and poverty: Do formalisation of informal enterprises matter?
Krizanova, A., Lăzăroiu, G., Gajanova, L., Kliestikova, J., Nadanyiova, M., & Moravcikova, D. (2019). The effectiveness of marketing communication and importance of its evaluation in an online environment. Sustainability, 11(24), 7016.
Mendes, S., Serrasqueiro, Z., & Nunes, P. M. (2014). Investment determinants of young and old Portuguese SMEs: A quantile approach. BRQ Business Research Quarterly, 17(4), 279–291.
Muljani, N., Ellitan, L., & Manajemen, J. (2019). The importance of information technology implementation in facing industrial revolution 4.0: Case study of banking industry. International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development, 4(1), 409–413.
National Bureau of Statistics. (2020). Unemployment data. https://www.nigerianstat.gov.ng/
Ndiaye, N., Razak, L. A., Nagayev, R., & Ng, A. (2018). Demystifying small and medium enterprises’(SMEs) performance in emerging and developing economies. Borsa Istanbul Review, 18(4), 269–281.
Neagu, C. (2016). The importance and role of small and medium-sized businesses. Theoretical and Applied Economics, 23(3), 331–338.
Nistor, I. E., & Popescu, D.-R. (2013). Romanian SMEs financing options: An empirical analysis. Financial challenge. Future, 1, 12–21.
Obi, J., Ibidunni, A. S., Tolulope, A., Olokundun, M. A., Amaihian, A. B., Borishade, T. T., & Fred, P. (2018). Contribution of small and medium enterprises to economic development: Evidence from a transiting economy. Data in Brief, 18, 835–839.
OECD. (2005). Knowledge-based economy. Glossary of statistical terms. http://stats.oecd.org/glossary/detail.asp?ID=6864
Perez-Gomez, P., Arbelo-Perez, M., & Arbelo, A. (2018). Profit efficiency and its determinants in small and medium-sized enterprises in Spain. BRQ Business Research, 21, 238–250.
Phan, A. C., Nguyen, H. T., Nguyen, H. A., & Matsui, Y. (2019). Effect of total quality management practices and JIT production practices on flexibility performance: Empirical evidence from international manufacturing plants. Sustainability, 11, 3093.
Tahir, H. M., Razak, N. A., & Rentah, F. (2018, March). The contributions of small and medium enterprises (SME’s) on Malaysian economic growth: A sectoral analysis. In International Conference on Kansei Engineering & Emotion Research (pp. 704–711). Springer, Singapore.
Taiwo, F., Falohun, T. O., & Agwu, M. E. (2016). SMEs financing and its effects on Nigerian economic growth. European Journal of Business, Economics and Accountancy, 4(4), 2056–6018.
Thurik, R., & Wennekers, S. (2004). Entrepreneurship, small business, and economic growth. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 11, 140–149.
Ufot, R. E., Reuben, E. G., & Baghebo, M. (2014). Small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) and Nigeria’s economic development. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 5(7), 1–7.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Bamkole, P., Ibeku, S. (2022). (In)visible Leadership: Economic Growth and SMEs. In: Ogunyemi, K., Atanya, O., Burgal, V. (eds) Management and Leadership for a Sustainable Africa, Volume 1. Palgrave Studies in African Leadership. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-04911-8_9
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-04911-8_9
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-04910-1
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-04911-8
eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)