This policy paper aims to improve understanding on how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) responded to the COVID-19 crisis and adapted to the new environment, and how different players in their ecosystems are contributing to their digital transition.

Researchers sought feedback from more than 1,500 Australian consumers and more than 400 small business owners about their online needs and challenges. The research found that most consumers feel that the Internet has a positive impact on their lives. However, the research also found consumers...

This research paper examines how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) access debt finance in Australia.

The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) commenced operations in March 2016, operating under the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Act 2015 (Cth). This review contends that the next phase for ASBFEO is one of consolidation and maturation of efforts and approach...

This document reports the findings from one of Australia’s largest-ever surveys of small and medium business (SME) leaders, exploring how and why they engaged with the R&D sector and what were the real and perceived enablers and barriers to collaboration.

Acknowledging that national policies will need to be responsive to needs across a diverse sector, with varying levels of digital maturity amongst enterprises (and people), this report presents a selection of policy considerations to prepare the tourism workforce for the digital future.

A comprehensive framework is needed to understand the landscape for cross-border parcel trade, including in the context of challenges experienced during COVID-19. This paper proposes such a framework to analyse the evolving environment for cross-border trade in parcels, exploring the types of goods that are...

Conceding that while the Canadian regional dynamic will never be fully immunised from economic inequities, the authors of this report believe that the proposals they outline will provide a workable, place-responsive, and efficient means of leveraging the post-COVID recovery as a catalyst for a stronger...

A framework is proposed in this report for analysing the impacts of trade and trade policies on women that policy-makers can use in order to ensure that trade and trade policies in their country support women’s economic empowerment.

This research explores the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health and wellbeing of small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) builders in New Zealand.

This paper examines whether, in light of the advances in technology and digital take-up rates, the benefits and compliance cost savings of applying accounting income to determine tax liabilities for small business now outweigh previous arguments that rejected such proposals.

The impact of COVID-19 has been felt across the economy and business sector, but for small businesses these shocks can be more challenging to deal with, with fewer resources to draw from. This report covers findings from the 2020 BCEC Small Business Survey including the...

This report examines the use of electronic monitoring in franchises and the difference in incentives between franchise models that resemble independent entrepreneurship versus employment. The author argues that franchising provides a useful lens for policymakers to think about how to assign legal rights and responsibilities...

This report outlines how a dramatic re-shaping to the structure of Australia’s economy has largely benefited big corporates and the financial sector, at the expense of family-run and small businesses.

This inquiry has found widespread market failure in regards to the availability and affordability of essential small business insurance products.

This fact sheet shows that the bulk of Federal, State and Territory policy responses to COVID19 have focused on economic protection – specifically on protecting or supporting businesses.

Doing business involves navigating a myriad of risks which makes insurance (compulsory and non-compulsory) an essential element of a successful business. This report finds that insurance is a pain point for many Australian businesses with most problems the result of complex global factors, rather than...

The economic crisis caused by lockdown measures in response to COVID-19 has distorted the Australian economy. The economic costs of lockdowns have not been equally shared across the country. This paper outlines five key pieces of evidence that lockdowns, rather than freezing the economy in...

The Australian government is making changes to our insolvency framework to better serve Australian small businesses, their creditors, and their employees. The changes will introduce new processes suitable for small businesses from 1 January 2021, reducing complexity, time and costs for small businesses.

This report summarises how national and subnational governments in nine advanced economies have so far supported businesses during the crisis through grants, tax cuts and tax deferrals, loans and equity stakes.