The Evolution of the Romanian SMEs' Perceptions Over the Last Decade

This chapter aims to highlight key issues regarding the evolution of entrepreneurs' perceptions within small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) sector from Romania in the period 2003/2004–2012/2013. Given the fact that the SMEs' sector has a major role in any economy, bringing a considerable contribution to the achievement of GDP, job creation, collection of the revenues for the state budget, generation of technical innovations applicable in the economy, etc., the presentation of the evolution of perceptions associated to SMEs from Romania in the last decade, has a special importance. The dynamic analysis of the perceptions afferent to SMEs sector in Romania is more interesting, considering that the last 10 years were marked by economic boom, the integration of Romania into the European Union (EU), and a period of economic crisis. The research in dynamic of few relevant issues to SMEs — assessments of Romanian business environment, economic opportunities and difficulties encountered, effects of EU integration, impact of economic crisis, training, and using of external consultants — was achieved by studying annual results of nationwide investigations, based on questionnaires and conducted on representative samples of SMEs. Taking in consideration the dynamic approach to the study of entrepreneurs' perceptions, there were identified some trends in the evolution of SMEs and were formulated some proposals and recommendations for the improvement of the Romanian entrepreneurial environment.