SME Policy Index

Overview l Structure l Methodology l Analytical benefits l Available editions l Contact

The SME Policy Index is a benchmarking tool in countries in South East Europe (SEE) and Kosovo under UNSCR 1244/99 that monitors and evaluates progress in implementing the main policy framework for small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) development elaborated by the European Union: The European Charter for Small Enterprises.

The OECD Investment Compact for South East Europe develops the Index in a joint effort with the European Commission, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Training Foundation.

The SME Policy Index is based on the broader Investment Reform Index in methodology and construction, and adapted to the European Charter for Small Enterprises and SME development.

The Index assesses the following policy dimensions:

• education and training for entrepreneurship
• cheaper and faster start-up
• better legislation and regulation
• availability of skills
• improving online access for tax filing and company registration
• getting more out of the Single Market
• taxation and financial matters
• strengthening the technological capacity of small enterprises
• successful e-business models and top class business support
• developing stronger, more effective representation of small enterprises

• The OECD Investment Compact for South East Europe and its partner organisations (the European Commission, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, European Training Foundation) first design the SME Policy Index self-evaluation toolkit
• South East Europe countries and Kosovo under UNSCR 1244/99 conduct self-evaluations structured in a national report following the policy dimensions
• a team of independent consultants conducts independent counter-assessments
• premiminary scorings are determined by the partner organisations
• governments comment on preliminary scorings
• final decisions on scores are made by the partner organisations
• final results of the SME Policy Index are published in a comprehensive report

The final results of the SME Policy Index are published in a report that aims to benefit governements by

• providing an overview of each country's performance on small enterprise development
• benchmarking country performance relative to peers in the region
• comparing country progress to previous assessments
• setting priorities to further improve the small enterprise environment, and 
• providing direction on how to make improvements within each policy dimension by adopting OECD good practices

Launched on 17 June 2009 in Brussels,  and the SME Policy Index 2009 updates the 2007 assessment, taking into account the effects of the global economic and financial crisis.

It also includes a special section on promoting innovative, high-growth SMEs.

Also available: The SME Policy Index 2007 

For hard copies of the SME Policy Index, please contact Isabel Huber, Communications Officer, at isabel.huber@oecd.org.

For further information on the SME Policy Index, contact Antonio Fanelli, Deputy Head of the Private Sector Development Division, at antonio.fanelli@oecd.org, or Jakob Fexer, Policy Analyst, at jakob.fexer@oecd.org.