Article

 

The comparative evaluation of the SME support programs: The case of voucher system of counselling transferred from Slovenia to FYROM (p.11-31)

by

Jaka Vadnjal, GEA College of Entrepreneurship, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Ljubiša Nikolovski , Agency for Entrepreneurship Promotions, Skopje, FYROM

Keywords : SMEs support, transition economy, market failure, counselling, consultants, local enterprise centre, voucher system

JEL classification : L26, M13

Abstract

There is a common belief also supported by several pieces of research findings that SMEs need external business support, in particular during the early development stage. Government agencies have developed several initiatives and voucher system as one of them is aimed to provide counselling to SME. The program was designed and started in Slovenia in 2000. In 2006 the know-how for the system was transferred into Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. This paper presents the fundamental concept of the voucher system and the rules for a comprehensive approach, discusses the organizational structure and functions of different stakeholders. Findings from the research done separately in two countries are analyzed in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the program and appropriateness for its transfer within countries. The potentials for further development of the system in FYROM on the basis of the know-how from Slovenia are assessed. An innovative outcome of the study is development of the framework for bench-marking based policy measure evaluation.