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Events
Policies for SME Growth: What Works, What Doesn¡¯t?
November 8, 2016Theme: Competitiveness and Productivity

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) employ about half of the workforce in developing countries. SME growth may thus raise incomes for many low-income households. But SMEs often face significant constraints to growth relative to large firms ranging from excessive red tape to limited access to finance.

In this talk, Miriam Bruhn will discuss empirical evidence on commonly used policies for SME growth. Miriam will cover policies that work and policies that don¡¯t in the areas of regulation, access to finance, and business practices. Encouragingly, evidence from Mexico, Georgia, Peru, and elsewhere shows that there are a number of programs that governments can implement to support SME growth. She will also highlight implementation challenges and caveats for some of these policies. 

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    Miriam Bruhn, Senior Economist, Research Department

    Miriam Bruhn is a Senior Economist in the Finance and Private Sector Development Team of the Development Research Group. She joined the Bank as a Young Economist in September 2007. Her research interests include the effect of regulatory reform on entrepreneurial activity, the informal sector, micro and small enterprises, financial literacy, and the relationship between institutions and economic development. She holds a Ph.D. in Economics from MIT and a B.A. in Economics from Yale University.
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    Asli Demirg¨¹?-Kunt, Director of Research

    Asli Demirg¨¹?-Kunt is the Director of Research in the World Bank. After joining the Bank in 1989 as a Young Economist, she has held different positions, including Director of Development Policy, Chief Economist of Financial and Private Sector Development Network, and Senior Research Manager, doing research and advising on financial sector and private sector development issues.
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    Simon Bell, Global Lead for SME Finance, Finance & Markets

    Since January 2015, Simon Bell has taken over the role of Global Lead for SME Finance in the Finance and Markets Global Practice where he is coordinating the financing support provided through F&M with colleagues dealing with SME issues in the Trade and Competitiveness Global Practice, the Financial Institutions Group of the IFC, the Advisory Services units of the IFC and the World Bank, and the SME Finance Forum. Simon also leads the SME Finance Community of Practice which includes over 50 staff from F&M ¨C as well as other associated staff from the IFC and other Global Practices, the IFC and World Bank Treasuries, and MIGA.

The Policy Research Talks showcase the latest findings of the research department and their implications for World Bank operations. The goal of the monthly event is to facilitate a dialogue between researchers and operational staff, so that we can challenge and contribute to the World Bank's intellectual climate and re-examine conventional wisdom in current development theories and practices.  Read More ?

Event Details
  • Time: 12:30 ¨C 2:00 PM, November 8, 2016
  • Location: MC 13-121, World Bank Main Complex
  • CONTACT: Tourya Tourougui
  • ttourougui@worldbank.org