The place and role of SMEs in the economy will be presented. In particular, the SME sector growth and development will be analyzed. The analysis will be conducted from an economist’s (mostly macroeconomist’s) rather than manager’s point of view.
The following topics are present: identification and classification of SMEs; specific characteristics and the role of the SME sub-sectors; sources of data on SMEs – in Poland and abroad; numerical characteristics of the SME sector in Poland and in selected countries; internal and external factors of development of the SMEs – in theory and in practice in Poland; cohort analysis as a basic tool of dynamic analysis of the enterprises and its application to research done on (Polish) firms; the role of SMEs in Polish economy – yesterday, today and tomorrow; barriers to SMEs development.