United States: SMEs the backbone of the economy?

Focus United States - Fall 2012

SMEs the backbone of the economy?

When public sector job creation runs out of steam, eyes turn to the private sector, which alone seems able to offer a solid basis for recovery in the months to come through investment and the hiring of workers.

This article focuses on SMEs, and poses several questions:
What actually are the SMEs and in which sectors are they present? Has the 2009 crisis had any after-effects? Can SMEs play a role in recovery in the short-term? And sustain the economy in the medium term?

The answers to these questions are crucial since half of American jobs are in SMEs.

Summary

• SMEs the backbone of the economy?
   
• How will SMEs get through the crisis?
   
• Exports: Obama administration targets SMEs
   
• American regional banks: their difficulties have repercussions on the credit offered to SMEs