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The Role of SMEs in extra-EU Exports: Key performance indicators

Author

Listed:
  • Cernat, Lucian

    (DG Trade)

  • Jakubiak, Malgorzata

    (DG Trade)

  • Preillon, Nicolas

    (DG Trade)

Abstract

This paper examines the growing importance of EU exporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) for EU exports in recent years in terms of standard metrics (the number of exporting SMEs, their share in total EU exports) but also in respect to several key performance indicators, such as export competitiveness, digital intensity of their exports, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and jobs supported by EU exporting SMEs. The empirical evidence suggests that the number of EU exporting SMEs has grown steadily over time. EU exporting SMEs seem to perform better than the OECD average in sectors of medium digital intensity. In particular, SMEs are competitive in digitally intensive goods, where EU large firms do not seem to be equally successful. SME exports have also lower GHG emissions than average levels, with 70% of SME exports belonging to low and medium-low emission intensity. Finally, yet importantly, EU SME exports are a major driver for export-led job creation: over 13 million jobs in Europe depend on EU SME exports.

Suggested Citation

  • Cernat, Lucian & Jakubiak, Malgorzata & Preillon, Nicolas, 2020. "The Role of SMEs in extra-EU Exports: Key performance indicators," DG TRADE Chief Economist Notes 2020-1, Directorate General for Trade, European Commission.
    • Handle: RePEc:ris:dgtcen:2020_001
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lucian, Cernat & Ana, Norman-López & Ana, Duch T-Figueras, 2014. "SMEs are more important than you think! Challenges and opportunities for EU exporting SMEs," DG TRADE Chief Economist Notes 2014-3, Directorate General for Trade, European Commission.
    2. Inaki Arto & Jose M. Rueda-Cantuche & Ignacio Cazcarro & Antonio F. Amores & Erik Dietzenbacher & M. Victoria Roman & Zornitsa Kutlina-Dimitrova, 2018. "EU exports to the world: Effects on income," JRC Research Reports JRC113072, Joint Research Centre.
    3. Inaki Arto & Jose M. Rueda-Cantuche & Ignacio Cazcarro & Antonio F. Amores & Erik Dietzenbacher & M. Victoria Roman & Zornitsa Kutlina-Dimitrova, 2018. "EU exports to the world: Effects on employment," JRC Research Reports JRC113071, Joint Research Centre.
    4. Flavio Calvino & Chiara Criscuolo & Luca Marcolin & Mariagrazia Squicciarini, 2018. "A taxonomy of digital intensive sectors," OECD Science, Technology and Industry Working Papers 2018/14, OECD Publishing.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    SMEs; international trade; performance indicators;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F13 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade Policy; International Trade Organizations

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