Assessment of inclusive entrepreneurship policies in Hungary

As part of the Local Economic and Employment Development Programme of the OECD and the DG Employment of the European Commission, the Budapest Institute assesses the inclusive entrepreneurship policies and programmes in Hungary.

Between 2013-2015 we prepared case studies on two Hungarian programmes supporting self-employment of under-represented groups. Since 2016we are preparing the policy assessments for Hungary with reflections on the problems faced and needs emerging by Hungarian entrepreneurs and want-to-be-entrepreneurs stemming from under-represented and / or vulnerable groups (e.g., youth, women, seniors and Roma, generally long term unemployed). After mapping the national policy framework targeted at these specific groups, we close the Hungarian reports with country-specific recommendations relevant for policy design, implementation as well as for systematic policy monitoring and evaluation. The Hungarian country assessments can be downloaded from the OECD portal: 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2023.

The 2021’s country assessment has been amended by a special section on entrepreneurship by people with disabilities.

According to our assessment, international indicators suggest a downward trend in entrepreneurial activities in Hungary and a growing gap with the European Union average -  especially, in case of young men and seniors. Even though the need for group-specific support to business creation is highlighted in several national strategies, a comprehensive policy framework for inclusive entrepreneurship has not yet been developed. A key challenge to boosting inclusive entrepreneurship is the lack of data and information about the specific barriers faced by the various target groups and that of rigorous assessments on effective impacts of current and past policy measures.

The Budapest Institute was invited by the OECD to prepare an assessment of inclusive entrepreneurship policies in Hungary as a country expert.