1. ORGANISATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION DE COOPÉRATION ET DE DEVELOPMENT ÉCONOMIQUES OECDOCDE Workshop on improving statistics on SME’s and Entrepreneurship OECD, 17-19 September 3003 Andreas Lindner 1 In search of better SME statistics and relevant indicators for SME Policy-Makers: Towards harmonized concepts and methodologies STATISTICS DIRECTORATE TRADE & STRUCTURAL ECONOMIC STATISTICS SECTION

2. STATISTICS DIRECTORATE STRUCTURAL ECONOMIC STATISTICS 2 Background Because of its relevance across themes, “Statistics on SMEs “ is one of the two cross-cutting themes of the Bologna Process Clarification and harmonisation of conceptual and measurement issues are a prerequisite for accurate and comparable data on international level An international initiative aiming at fostering comparability and assessing better ways ways has to start at probing into national practices and compare these to other countries and country groups. Through these comparisons, some benefits can be expected for national authorities (exchange of approaches, know-how and solutions to problems) Therefore, OECD decided to invite countries and other stakeholders to share experiences and views on statistical questions relating to SMEs This Workshop is the forum for such an exchange The expected key output is the elaboration of proposals and recommendations for endorsement by Ministers at the Istanbul Conference

3. STATISTICS DIRECTORATE STRUCTURAL ECONOMIC STATISTICS 3 Taking stock of existing SME statistics Which statistical strategies do countries pursue? => the Strategy Questionnaire A first stocktaking of data availability and inventory of definitions and framework for a more exhaustive inquiry Taking stock of SME data and methodologies in the EU SME statistics in the Observatory of European SMEs

4. STATISTICS DIRECTORATE STRUCTURAL ECONOMIC STATISTICS 4 What needs from a user perspective? Canadian requirements for SME financing data What are the needs from a Non-European (APEC) perspective? Looking at data demand and supply and possible priorities for better meeting needs Legal aspects and the necessity to have also qualitative criteria in addition to quantitative variables

5. STATISTICS DIRECTORATE STRUCTURAL ECONOMIC STATISTICS 5 Data providers: towards new approaches An analysis of Korean SME characteristics and proposed developments for data linking Some statistical issues arising from the use of different Statistical Units in Business Registers Canada’s experience with SME statistics, recent initiatives and need for future statistical research The Australian SME experience and the need to use administrative data

6. STATISTICS DIRECTORATE STRUCTURAL ECONOMIC STATISTICS 6 Possible ways forward Identifying possible avenues for action and further research Can we condense already “fundamental” requirements from a “system” perspective? Which key messages can be listed already for the conclusion session of this Friday?

7. STATISTICS DIRECTORATE STRUCTURAL ECONOMIC STATISTICS 7 Enterprise demography Business Demography Statistics – first results in the EU and Norway to SME data collection and need for further work The US experience on alternative measures of business entry and exit Differences in entry and exit in OECD countries – findings, impact of methodological differences and the need to link policy variables to new firm survival and growth

8. STATISTICS DIRECTORATE STRUCTURAL ECONOMIC STATISTICS 8 The role of gender in Entrepreneurship: Statistics on women entrepreneurship in OECD countries The status of women and men’s entrepreneurship in the UNECE region Statistical issues and policy concerning women entrepreneurships and women-owned business in Korea

9. STATISTICS DIRECTORATE STRUCTURAL ECONOMIC STATISTICS 9 Statistics on factors of success and entrepreneurship Enterprise survival and its determining factors and statistics about firm creations – the French experience Statistics on start-ups in Sweden How can factors of business success be statistically measured ? Ongoing and planned work in the EU

10. STATISTICS DIRECTORATE STRUCTURAL ECONOMIC STATISTICS 10 The role of data linking and longitudinal analysis: The recent experience in the UK about data linking Panel discussion on experiences in other statistical offices Which lessons have we learnt today? Possible recommendations for follow- up and future statistical research

11. STATISTICS DIRECTORATE STRUCTURAL ECONOMIC STATISTICS 11 Special session on Members and Non-Members An international comparison of SME Statistics in the CEECs SME statistics in Chinese Taipei – an overview and some suggestions for improvements in the future SME Characteristics and statistical needs in the Philippines

12. STATISTICS DIRECTORATE STRUCTURAL ECONOMIC STATISTICS 12 Roundtable discussion and conclusions of the Workshop Exchange of views amongst participants on key issues requiring particular attention on –Statistical issues –Statistical strategies –Statistical methodologies Final conclusions of the workshop to be carried forward

13. STATISTICS DIRECTORATE STRUCTURAL ECONOMIC STATISTICS 13 Thank you for your attention!