Journal of Economics and Development Studies

Small Enterprise Development and African Economic Growth: Country-study of Ghana and South Africa
Natalia Tsatsenko

Abstract
Structural transformation has occurred in Sub-Saharan Africa. It provides many opportunities for the region as a whole to stimulate the development of entrepreneurship. Furthermore, economic growth is one of the main objectives for policymakers. The small and medium-sized enterprise sector is considered as one of the appropriate tools for achieving this objective. This paper aims to investigate the process of small business development in Ghana and South Africa within structural change, drawing upon the method of country-study. Moreover, this study addresses the question of how SMEs may be embedded into the process of structural change and highlights the connections between various transformation processes toward to increasing role of entrepreneurship in both countries as a new opportunity for growth. Firstly, this paper gives an insight into macroeconomic performances during 1991-2017 based on the World Development Indicators in both countries. Secondly, the SME sector is described and discussed. Finally, the sample of programs for support and development of SMEs are documented and analyzed.

Full Text: PDF     DOI: 10.15640/jeds.v8n1a3