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The impact of COVID-19 on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs): Evidence from two-wave phone surveys in China

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  • Dai, Ruochen
  • Feng, Hao
  • Hu, Junpeng
  • Jin, Quan
  • Li, Huiwen
  • Wang, Ranran
  • Wang, Ruixin
  • Xu, Lihe
  • Zhang, Xiaobo

Abstract

This paper examines the short-term and mid-term impact of COVID-19 restrictions on SMEs, based on two waves of phone interviews with a previously surveyed large SME sample in China. The outbreak of COVID-19 and the resultant lockdowns took a heavy toll on SMEs. Afflicted by problems of logistics blocks, labor shortages, and drops in demand, 80% of SMEs were temporarily closed at the time of the first wave of interviews in February 2020. After reining in COVID-19, authorities largely eased lockdown restrictions in April. Consequently, most SMEs had reopened by the time of the second round of surveys in May. However, many firms, particularly export firms, were running at partial capacity, primarily due to inadequate demand. Moreover, around 19% of incorporated enterprises and 25% of self-employed businesses had permanently closed between the two waves of surveys.

Suggested Citation

  • Dai, Ruochen & Feng, Hao & Hu, Junpeng & Jin, Quan & Li, Huiwen & Wang, Ranran & Wang, Ruixin & Xu, Lihe & Zhang, Xiaobo, 2021. "The impact of COVID-19 on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs): Evidence from two-wave phone surveys in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:chieco:v:67:y:2021:i:c:s1043951x21000250
    DOI: 10.1016/j.chieco.2021.101607
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    Cited by:

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    2. Wu, Jianxin & Zhan, Xiaoling & Xu, Hui & Ma, Chunbo, 2023. "The economic impacts of COVID-19 and city lockdown: Early evidence from China," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 151-165.
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    9. Tomo Kawane & Bismark Adu-Gyamfi & Yuqiu Cao & Yinjia Zhang & Nanami Yamazawa & Zuquan He & Rajib Shaw, 2024. "Digitization as an Adaptation and Resilience Measure for MSMEs amid the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan: Lessons from the Food Service Industry for Collaborative Future Engagements," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-21, February.
    10. Onjewu, Adah-Kole Emmanuel & Olan, Femi & Nyuur, Richard Benon-be-isan & Paul, Salima & Nguyen, Ha Thanh Truc, 2023. "The effect of government support on Bureaucracy, COVID-19 resilience and export intensity: Evidence from North Africa," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    11. Liu,Yu & Peng,Mike W. & Wei,Zuobao & Xu,Jian & Xu,L. Colin, 2021. "Organizational Resources, Country Institutions, and National Culture behind Firm Survival and Growth during COVID-19," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9633, The World Bank.
    12. Yan, Huanmin & Liu, Zhenyu & Wang, Haoyu & Zhang, Xuehua & Zheng, Xilei, 2022. "How does the COVID-19 affect earnings management: Empirical evidence from China," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    13. Fang,Sheng & Goh,Chorching & Li,Shaomin & Xu,L. Colin, 2022. "Firm Resources, Strategies, and Survival and Growth during COVID-19: Evidence from Two-WaveGlobal Surveys," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9997, The World Bank.
    14. Chen, Yutong & Debnath, Sisir & Sekhri, Sheetal & Sekhri, Vishal, 2023. "The impact of Covid-19 containment lockdowns on MSMEs in India and resilience of exporting firms," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 210(C), pages 320-341.
    15. Collin Chikwira, 2023. "The Foreign Exchange Auction System’s Effect on SME Stability and Performance," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 13(5), pages 96-108, September.
    16. Aneta Włodarczyk & Agata Mesjasz-Lech, 2021. "Ecological and Economic Context of Managing Enterprises That Are Particularly Harmful to the Environment and the Well-Being of Society," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-24, May.
    17. Erlinda Nusron Yunus & Erni Ernawati & Endah Nuraini & Kartika Yuniarti, 2023. "Preserving Heritage of Humanity: A Systematic Study of the Pandemic Impacts and Countermeasures of the SMEs," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-16, February.
    18. Liang, Xiao & Rozelle, Scott & Yi, Hongmei, 2022. "The impact of COVID-19 on employment and income of vocational graduates in China: Evidence from surveys in January and July 2020," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    19. Anna Spoz & Ilona Skibinska-Fabrowska & Grzegorz Kotlinski & Helena Zukowska, 2021. "The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on the Financial Performance of Public Companies in Poland," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(4), pages 955-976.
    20. Liu, Yun & Zhang, Yun & Zhang, Yifei & Xiao, He, 2022. "Small business owners’ Fintech credit in crises: Theory and evidence from farmers under the COVID-19," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    21. Paulina Pukin-Sowul & Aleksandra Ostrowska, 2021. "The COVID-19 pandemic and Polandb," Zeszyty Naukowe Małopolskiej Wyższej Szkoły Ekonomicznej w Tarnowie / The Malopolska School of Economics in Tarnow Research Papers Collection, Malopolska School of Economics in Tarnow, vol. 51(3), pages 47-59, September.
    22. Apol Pribadi Subriadi & Shinta Amalia Kusuma Wardhani, 2022. "Survivability Scenario of SMEs in Facing COVID-19 Crisis Based on the Social Commerce Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-24, March.
    23. Yun Cheng & Sha Fang & Jie Yin, 2022. "The effects of community safety support on COVID‐19 event strength perception, risk perception, and health tourism intention: The moderating role of risk communication," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(2), pages 496-509, March.
    24. Cong, Lin William & Yang, Xiaohan & Zhang, Xiaobo, 2021. "SMEs Amidst the Pandemic and Reopening: Digital Edge and Transformation," Applied Economics and Policy Working Paper Series 317045, Cornell University, Department of Applied Economics and Management.

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