Operational environment/simplification of procedures (Dimension 2)

This chapter covers a number of areas related to the operational and regulatory environment faced by SMEs, such as regulatory reform and the application of regulatory impact analysis (RIA), company registration and tax-filing procedures and access to e-government services. While these issues may not all be under the direct remit of the line ministry in charge of SME policy, they are highly relevant for creating a conducive business environment.The LA7 assessment results for this policy dimension are relatively weak in comparison with those of other dimensions. Overall, this means that the targeted support provided to SMEs in other areas (such as innovation, associativity, and internationalisation) functions within a sub-optimal general business environment, with significant barriers to enterprise entry and competition. It is important that LA7 countries consider this overall picture and find the optimal policy mix between improving the general business environment and providing continuous, targeted support to enterprises with high growth potential.