What direction are inclusive entrepreneurship policies taking in Europe in the wake of COVID-19?

02/12/2021

The economic crisis caused by the pandemic has further reduced the labour market opportunities of those already disadvantaged. It has got even more important to evaluate inclusive programmes helping them become entrepreneurs/self-employed.

This is why the "Missing Entrepreneurs 2021” report, published on 30 November 2021, is of great importance. This new publication is the 6th edition in the OECD-EU series of reports that examine inclusive entrepreneurship policies in Europe.

The report, drawing on country analyses from 27 EU Member States, presents the entrepreneurship rates of disadvantaged target groups (youth, women, seniors, long-term unemployed, ethnic minorities, people with migrant background and with disabilities) and the various policies that support microfinance for inclusive entrepreneurship. This year, for the first time, a chapter on the impact of COVID-19 has been added, providing an overview of the additional challenges faced by the groups of entrepreneurs at risk and the effectiveness of policy responses concerning their support.

BI was again commissioned to prepare the analysis for Hungary in the 2021 report.

The 2021 edition draws attention to the extent to which the business activities and labour market chances of the target groups listed above have been affected by COVID-19. At the same time, it highlights that there remain many untapped opportunities for entrepreneurship development which, however, require more differentiated government entrepreneurship policies.

You can find the full OECD-EU „Missing Entrepreneurs 2021” report” here.