Most low- and middle-income countries have many small but only a few medium-sized and large enterprises. Small firms seem to have difficulties growing into medium-sized ones. This is problematic because medium-sized companies tend to be the main creators of higher quality and better-paid...

In low and middle-income countries micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) constitute a large part of the industrial fabric. By offering possibilities to gain income, training and work experience MSMEs are said to provide livelihoods to millions of people worldwide. However, across developed...

In developing countries, micro and small enterprises (MSEs) comprise the largest part of the industrial fabric – offering millions of people worldwide the chance to be employed and earn livelihoods. However, empirical evidence suggests that a large majority of MSEs never manage to upgrade...

How and to what extent can deep preferential trade agreements (PTAs) support the upgrading of companies from developing countries within global value chains (GVCs)? This question is of increasing importance, as PTAs have become the trade instrument of choice of major trading powers, and their...