Framework for the Evaluation of SME and Entrepreneurship Policies and Programmes 2023 [electronic resource] / Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

Format:

Book

Government document

Author/Creator:

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Series:

OECD Studies on SMEs and Entrepreneurship, 20780990.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Employment.

Governance.

Industry and Services.

Local Subjects:

Employment.

Governance.

Industry and Services.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (174 p. )

Place of Publication:

Paris : OECD Publishing, 2023.

Summary:

Evaluation is the foundation of evidence-based policy. Yet there is a dearth of reliable impact evaluation in the area of SME and entrepreneurship policy. This publication issues OECD guidance on how governments can promote reliable SME and entrepreneurship policy evaluation. It emphasises practices including using control groups, setting clear policy objectives and targets and accounting for business survival and non-survival. It shows that reliable evaluation of SME and entrepreneurship policy is increasingly accessible given improvements in data and techniques in recent years and illustrates this with examples of 50 reliable evaluations across many SME and entrepreneurship policy areas and 28 OECD countries. Overall, the publication issues a call for more systematic and reliable evaluation of SME and entrepreneurship policies following the guidance offered. The publication also examines the findings of reliable evaluations internationally, including meta evaluations. The evidence is mixed but generally more robust and consistent for policies to improve access to finance than in the provision of training and advisory services. Some policies have positive impacts on key measures whereas others do not. The reasons are explored, including variations in the targeting of policies and in policy delivery approaches.

Contents:

What is evaluation and why do it?

Brief description of included evaluation methods

Review of 50 programme evaluations from 28 OECD countries

Explanation of the template for the 50 evaluation profiles

Methods and findings of the 50 individual evaluations

Why do SME and entrepreneurship policy evaluations provide mixed evidence of impact?

What needs to be improved in SME and entrepreneurship policy evaluation?

Reader's Guide

The state of play in SME and entrepreneurship policy evaluation

What are the implications of the evaluation evidence for refocusing SME and entrepreneurship policy?

Foreword

Existing meta-evaluations

Examples of other relevant evaluation studies not included in the report

Synthesis and implications

Executive Summary

What issues did COVID-19 SME and entrepreneurship support highlight for evaluation?

Re-stating the key policy and evaluation messages.

ISBN:

92-64-38580-0