Analysing the composition of the SME sector in high- and low-income regions. Some research hypotheses

Certain qualitative characteristics of the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating within a territory might be essential to explain their macroeconomic impact. From this perspective, the current paper explores the relationship between the composition of the SME sector and the level of regional economic development. In this respect, a conceptual framework to analyse the composition of SME sectors is proposed considering two key aspects: on the one hand, different dimensions of SMEs’entrepreneurial orientation –innovation, cooperation, proactivity and quality orientation- and, on the other hand, the role of the external effects resulting from the inter-firm productive linkages within a specific area –differentiating between domestic, dependent, exporting and extravert SMEs. The relationship between these two key aspects is also considered and tested using a multinomial logit model. The empirical analysis uses data from a survey among over 650 SMEs in two Spanish provinces: Barcelona, as an example of a high-income economy, and Seville, as an example of a comparatively backward area

Production Chains in an Interregional Framework: Identification by Means of Average Propagation Lengths

When linkages between industries are studied from the perspective of production chains, sequencing is important. In this respect, both the strength of the linkages and the distance between industries are relevant. Distance is measured by the average propagation length, defined as the average number of steps it takes a stimulus in one industry to propagate and affect another industry. Using the 1985 intercountry input-output table for six European countries, we present three applications. These are, visualizing the production structure by graphing its production chains, analyzing intercountry linkages between industries, and determining the role that each country plays within the system

Two methodological approaches to the study of production chains in tourism industry

In this article, two different methodological frameworks are applied to study the production chains in the tourism industry in Andalusia (Spain). Firstly, from a macroeconomic perspective, input-output techniques are used to identify tourism production chains from the regional input-output table. Secondly, from a microeconomic perspective, a different approach is taken based on the concept of Global Value Chains (GVC) (Gereffi 1999; Kaplinsky and Readman 2001). In this respect, the structure and main agents participating in the GVC in tourism are presented, and the role of SMEs in the tourist industry in Andalusia is put forward. Finally, the relationship between the two approaches is discussed, pointing out their main differences and complementing factors

La política europea de fomento empresarial : un análisis crítico

La Unión Europea viene desarrollando a lo largo de las últimas décadas un programa de acción enfocado a la promoción del espíritu empresarial y al fomento de la PYME. En este trabajo se discute, en primer lugar, la pertinencia de las actuaciones encaminadas a impulsar el espíritu emprendedor en la UE a la luz de recientes aportaciones teóricas y empíricas respecto a la contribución de los emprendedores y de las PYMEs al dinamismo económico. A continuación, se presenta una revisión panorámica de las principales acciones que la UE ha planteado en la última década a fin de fomentar el espíritu empresarial y apoyar al sector de la PYME. Finalmente, se valora la orientación estratégica de estas actuaciones, identificando sus puntos fuertes y algunas deficiencias. ______________________________________During the last few decades the European Union is carrying out a programme focused on the promotion of entrepreneurship and SMEs. In this article, firstly, we address the pertinence of the measures to encourage entrepreneurship in the European Union, considering some recent theoretical and empirical findings about the contribution of entrepreneurs and SMEs to economic dynamism. Next, we review panoramically the main EU actions to promote entrepreneurship and support SME sector in the last decade. Finally, the strategic orientation of this EU policy is discussed, identifying its strengths and some deficiencies

Determinants of innovativeness in SMEs. disentangling core innovation and technology adoption capabilities

This paper studies innovativeness in SMEs from a set of innovation indicators at the firm level, capturing various types of innovation (product, process, organisational, and marketing innovations) and the level of innovativeness in these firm’s developments. The article identifies two separate dimensions in the innovativeness of Spanish SMEs, using factor analysis techniques. One dimension is associated with the capabilities for core/internal innovation and the other with the capabilities for the adoption of technology. The paper shows that significant differences exist in the personal and organisational factors that favour these two dimensions. The entrepreneur’s motivation, business planning, and cooperation in R&D activities constitute significant factors when considering the core dimension of a firm’s innovativeness, but have no effect on the firm’s capabilities for technology adoption. However, the use of external consultancy services seems to have no significant effect on the core dimension of the innovativeness of anSME, whereas it is a relevant factor for its technology adoption. Furthermore, it is shown that the entrepreneur’s education plays a more significant role in the core dimension of a firm’s innovativeness than in its capabilities for technology adoption. Depending on the policy objectives, these differences should lead to the application of specific policy approaches when an attempt to stimulate innovation in SMEs is made

The influence of social capital on risk-taking propensity. A study on Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs

This paper studies the influence of social capital on immigrant entrepreneurs’ risk-taking propensity. The paper has a particular focus on Chinese immigrants and also explores the effects of the so-called “guanxi”, a specific form of social capital for Chinese communities. The empirical research is based on a survey conducted in 2012 on Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs in Andalusia (Spain). An ordinal logistic regression specification was employed to test the hypotheses. The results show that the Chinese immigrant entrepreneurs with greater structural, relational and cognitive social capital and better “guanxi” have a higher risk-taking propensity in their business activity

Firm Size and Regional Linkages. A Typology of Manufacturing Establishments in Southern Spain

Regions with different levels of development are characterized by different enterprise compositions according to firm size and regional productive linkages. Using these two variables and two additional ones -the technological level and the position in the value chain-, the composition of the industrial sector in any region can be studied. In this respect, a new theoretical enterprise typology is proposed in this paper as a powerful analytical tool. Furthermore, an empirical work is carried out using a data set from the survey done to estimate the regional input-output table of Andalusia, a backward region in southern Spain. Thus, the theoretical enterprise typology is applied to the industry in Andalusia, so that some strengths and weaknesses of the regional economy are identified

Determinants of technology adoption in the retail trade industry - the case of SMEs in Spain

This paper analyzes the determinants of small and medium-sized enterprises’ technology adoption in the retail trade industry. From the theoretical perspective, two types of influential factors are differentiated in this respect: the personal characteristics of the manager/business owner and the business’s organizational characteristics. The empirical analysis is based on a survey of 268 small and medium-sized enterprises in the Spanish retail trade sector. A logistic regression specification is used as an econometric method. The results indicate that both the acquisition of new technical and electronic equipment and the obtaining of new software are affected by the two types of determinants previously pointed out. The manager/business owner’s entrepreneurial motivation and educational background have significant influences on technology adoption in this type of companies. Furthermore, being part of a business group, carrying out training activities for the employees and inter-firm cooperation also positively influence technology adoption in the retail trade industry