Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the Philippines: What We Know and What We Don't Know

Abstract

The availability of national firm level data particularly on micro enterprises in many developing countries still remains limited up to this date. The Philippines is no exception, which in turn limits the extent of empirical analysis on the economic contributions of micro, small and medium scale enterprises. This paper presents a novel dataset of Philippine micro, small and medium enterprises and the existing literature concerning the challenges and development issues of MSMEs in the industrial and developing countries. Using a dataset on over 1,700 MSMEs collected as part of the AIM Policy Center’s Enterprise Survey 2009, this paper discusses the characteristics of these firms and their perceptions on government policies on improving the business environment. This paper also draws on the wider literature on this topic in order to map out key areas where further information and evidence on Philippine MSMEs could be useful in informing more nuanced and possibly better-fitting policies.