SME Sustainability and Growth in Emerging Markets

Abstract

The relatedness of the factors that slow down the sustainability and growth of SMEs in emerging markets is discussed in this chapter. The chapter further argues that even though the factors that have encumbered SMEs have gained traction in enterprise development and business management research, how their multidimensional interrelationship can harm the sustainability and growth of SMEs in emerging markets is yet to receive considerable attention. The entrepreneurial ecosystem framework of Mazzarol is used to present a novel approach in this review by attempting a richer explanation of the extent of the mutual connectedness of these factors and how they shape the entrepreneurial ecosystem. This chapter concludes that the factors that inhibit the realization of an impressive sustainable growth of SMEs are interrelated. For instance, the high cost of electricity significantly reduces the profit that can be made by a small business owner, and, in this case, the small business owner may have difficulty paying back a loan obtained in favor of the business.