Lowering barriers to entrepreneurship and promoting small business growth in South Africa

Christine Lewis ; Boingotlo Gasealahwe

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

关键词: South Africa;    business regulation;    small business taxation;    entrepreneurship;    entrepreneurial skills;    micro and small business;   

DOI  :  https://doi.org/10.1787/d60e254f-en

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: OECD iLibrary

【 摘 要 】

Lowering high levels of unemployment and inequality are amongst the largest challenges facing South Africa. More entrepreneurs and thriving small businesses would contribute to inclusive growth. Measures of entrepreneurial activity are lower in South Africa than in other emerging economies. Barriers to entrepreneurship include bureaucratic procedures and licensing, which are also an ongoing burden on small firms. Public procurement is being used to overcome the dominance of large incumbents, but so far its net effect on small firms is not clear. An education system that better equipped students with basic skills as well as entrepreneurial skills would grow the pipeline of entrepreneurs. New forms of financing are slowly emerging in a system that is dominated by banks. A better evidence base is crucial for more effective financial and non-financial support programmes to boost start-up rates and small firms’ growth.