IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i10p7847-d1144074.html

The Effect of COVID-19 on the Performance of SMEs in Emerging Markets in Iran, Iraq and Jordan

Author

Listed:
  • Saeid Homayoun

    (Department of Economics and Business Studies, University of Gavle, 801 76 Gavle, Sweden)

  • Mohammad Ali Bagherpour Velashani

    (Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad 9177948974, Iran)

  • Bashaer Khdhair Abbas Alkhafaji

    (Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad 9177948974, Iran)

  • Siham Jabbar Mezher

    (Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad 9177948974, Iran)

Abstract

This research aims to investigate the effect of COVID-19 on the performance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in emerging markets in Iran, Iraq and Jordan. In order to collect the required data, a standard questionnaire provided in the literature was used. The research period is the second quarter of 2022, and its population includes managers, accountants and auditors engaged in listed and non-listed companies. The research findings indicate that the outbreak of COVID-19 has affected SMEs’ performance in investigated emerging markets. For the first time, this research has examined the impact of COVID-19 on the performance of SMEs in emerging markets. The research was conducted in the three countries of Iran, Iraq and Jordan, which have different environmental conditions indicating the impact of contextual factors on the effects of the spread of COVID-19. The results can be useful for different parties, such as SMEs’ owners and regulatory bodies in similar markets.

Suggested Citation

  • Saeid Homayoun & Mohammad Ali Bagherpour Velashani & Bashaer Khdhair Abbas Alkhafaji & Siham Jabbar Mezher, 2023. "The Effect of COVID-19 on the Performance of SMEs in Emerging Markets in Iran, Iraq and Jordan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-14, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:10:p:7847-:d:1144074
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/10/7847/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/10/7847/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ren, Zhaomin & Zhang, Xuan & Zhang, Zhekai, 2021. "New evidence on COVID-19 and firm performance," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 213-225.
    2. Scott R. Baker & Nicholas Bloom & Steven J. Davis & Stephen J. Terry, 2020. "COVID-Induced Economic Uncertainty," NBER Working Papers 26983, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. Goswami, Binoy & Mandal, Raju & Nath, Hiranya K., 2021. "Covid-19 pandemic and economic performances of the states in India," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 461-479.
    4. Michela Piccarozzi & Cecilia Silvestri & Patrizio Morganti, 2021. "COVID-19 in Management Studies: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-28, March.
    5. Luis A. Gil-Alana & Manuel Monge, 2021. "Crude Oil Prices and COVID-19 - Persistence of the Shock," Energy RESEARCH LETTERS, Asia-Pacific Applied Economics Association, vol. 1(1), pages 1-4.
    6. Hu, Shiwei & Zhang, Yuyao, 2021. "COVID-19 pandemic and firm performance: Cross-country evidence," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 365-372.
    7. Huayu Shen & Mengyao Fu & Hongyu Pan & Zhongfu Yu & Yongquan Chen, 2020. "The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Firm Performance," Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(10), pages 2213-2230, August.
    8. Baek, Seungho & Mohanty, Sunil K. & Glambosky, Mina, 2020. "COVID-19 and stock market volatility: An industry level analysis," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 37(C).
    9. Diego Martin & Erin Neale & Raffaele Bertini & Julia Smith Omomo & Olga Aymerich, 2022. "Impact of Covid-19 on Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Iraq," Working Papers 1552, Economic Research Forum, revised 20 Jun 2022.
    10. Huayu Shen & Mengyao Fu & Hongyu Pan & Zhongfu Yu & Yongquan Chen, 2020. "The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Firm Performance," Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(10), pages 2213-2230, August.
    11. Ahmed, Shehar Yar, 2020. "Impact of COVID-19 on Performance of Pakistan Stock Exchange," MPRA Paper 101540, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    12. Dinh Hoang Bach Phan & Paresh Kumar Narayan, 2020. "Country Responses and the Reaction of the Stock Market to COVID-19—a Preliminary Exposition," Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(10), pages 2138-2150, August.
    13. Zheng, Chen & Zhang, Junru, 2021. "The impact of COVID-19 on the efficiency of microfinance institutions," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 407-423.
    14. Dinh Hoang Bach Phan & Paresh Kumar Narayan, 2020. "Country Responses and the Reaction of the Stock Market to COVID-19—a Preliminary Exposition," Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(10), pages 2138-2150, August.
    15. Elena Giovannoni & Maria Pia Maraghini, 2013. "The challenges of integrated performance measurement systems," Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 26(6), pages 978-1008, August.
    16. Chen, Hsuan-Chi & Yeh, Chia-Wei, 2021. "Global financial crisis and COVID-19: Industrial reactions," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 42(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Imane Elouardighi & Kenza Oubejja, 2023. "COVID‐19 and the fate of Moroccan female‐led firms: Regional level evidence," Regional Science Policy & Practice, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 15(8), pages 1740-1767, October.
    2. Josephat D. Sengura & Mu Renyan, 2024. "The Role of Entrepreneurial Orientation and Entrepreneurial Bricolage on Frugal Innovation and SMEs Sustainable Performance in Emerging Markets," International Journal of Management Science and Business Administration, Inovatus Services Ltd., vol. 10(4), pages 19-37, May.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Hu, Shiwei & Zhang, Yuyao, 2021. "COVID-19 pandemic and firm performance: Cross-country evidence," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 365-372.
    2. Harjoto, Maretno Agus & Rossi, Fabrizio & Lee, Robert & Sergi, Bruno S., 2021. "How do equity markets react to COVID-19? Evidence from emerging and developed countries," Journal of Economics and Business, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    3. Dongyang Zhang & Cao Wang & Yu Dong, 2023. "How Does Firm ESG Performance Impact Financial Constraints? An Experimental Exploration of the COVID-19 Pandemic," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 35(1), pages 219-239, February.
    4. Lianggui Liao & Chan Wang & Hong-Xing Wen & Pu-Yan Nie & Ying Huang, 2023. "The Impact and Mechanism of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Corporate Financing: Evidence from Listed Companies in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-21, January.
    5. Vu, Cuong Sy & Nguyen, Quang Anh & Pham, Hoa Thi Thanh, 2025. "The COVID-19 pandemic, ownership structure, and firm performance: New evidence from Vietnamese listed firms," Journal of Multinational Financial Management, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    6. Naidu, Dharmendra & Ranjeeni, Kumari, 2021. "Effect of coronavirus fear on the performance of Australian stock returns: Evidence from an event study," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    7. Fasano, Francesco & Javier Sánchez-Vidal, F. & La Rocca, Maurizio, 2022. "The role of government policies for Italian firms during the COVID-19 crisis," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).
    8. Shabir, Mohsin & Jiang, Ping & Wang, Wenhao & Işık, Özcan, 2023. "COVID-19 pandemic impact on banking sector: A cross-country analysis," Journal of Multinational Financial Management, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    9. Padhan, Rakesh & Prabheesh, K.P., 2021. "The economics of COVID-19 pandemic: A survey," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 220-237.
    10. Mihaela Ionela SOCOLIUC, 2020. "Considerations Concerning The Implications Of The Covid 19 Pandemic On The Role Of The Corporate Governance In The Ensurance Of The Continuity Of The Activity," Annales Universitatis Apulensis Series Oeconomica, Faculty of Sciences, "1 Decembrie 1918" University, Alba Iulia, vol. 2(22), pages 126-138.
    11. Hasan, Md. Tanvir, 2022. "The sum of all SCARES COVID-19 sentiment and asset return," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 332-346.
    12. Makni, Mohammed S., 2023. "Analyzing the impact of COVID-19 on the performance of listed firms in Saudi market," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    13. Hsu, Bo-Xiang & Chen, Yi-Min, 2024. "Does corporate social responsibility influence performance persistence? A signal extraction approach with evidence from Fortune 500 companies," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 200(C).
    14. Devpura, Neluka & Narayan, Paresh Kumar & Sharma, Susan Sunila, 2021. "Bond return predictability: Evidence from 25 OECD countries," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    15. Anasuya Haldar & Narayan Sethi, 2022. "The Economic Effects of Covid-19 Mitigation Policies on Unemployment and Economic Policy Uncertainty," Bulletin of Monetary Economics and Banking, Bank Indonesia, vol. 25(Special I), pages 61-84, March.
    16. Wang, Jiangyuan & Wang, Hua & Wang, Di, 2021. "Equity concentration and investment efficiency of energy companies in China: Evidence based on the shock of deregulation of QFIIs," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    17. Wang, Hui & Shen, Huayu & Tang, Xiaoyi & Wu, Zuofeng & Ma, Shuming, 2021. "Trade policy uncertainty and firm risk taking," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 351-364.
    18. Liu, Hengxu & Zhao, Wenxi, 2023. "The role of political connections in bad times: Evidence from the COVID-19 pandemic," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    19. Khan, Safi Ullah, 2022. "Financing constraints and firm-level responses to the COVID-19 pandemic: International evidence," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    20. Yahya, Habeeb, 2023. "The role of ESG performance in firms' resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from Nordic firms," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 58(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:10:p:7847-:d:1144074. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.