THE POWER OF PEOPLE, PLACES & FIRMS
Reading Time: 4 minutesSince the global financial crisis, business investment has struggled to recover, with real investment still 23% below its pre-2008 trend. The world isn’t short of good ideas or businesses, nor of finance. Yet the actual investment needed to fuel growth, jobs and the twin transitions continues to fall short. Can smarter policies on SME financing reignite investment and lead our economies to their best selves?
Reading Time: 4 minutesEurope has a ‘leaky bucket’ issue when it comes to nurturing young entrepreneurial talent. There is no lack in their production, but their retention is an issue. This phenomenon explains what the OECD calls the ”Missing Entrepreneurs” – the cohort of 812 000 potential young founders accounting for 11% of total untapped entrepreneurial potential. So, how do we move forward to a more promising future?
Reading Time: 5 minutesEuropa hat ein „Leck am Eimer“, wenn es um die Förderung junger Unternehmertalente geht. An Nachwuchs mangelt es nicht, doch die Entwicklung und Förderung dieser Talente scheitert kläglich. Dieses Phänomen erklärt, was die OECD als die „fehlenden Unternehmer“ bezeichnet – eine Gruppe von 812.000 potenziellen jungen Gründern, die 11 % des gesamten ungenutzten unternehmerischen Potenzials ausmachen. Was ist also die Ursache des Problems und wie können wir eine vielversprechendere Zukunft gestalten?
Reading Time: 3 minutesOver the last decade, housing costs in big cities soared by 68% – far higher than in smaller cities or rural areas – stretching household budgets, and pricing young people and families out of urban centres. São Paulo offers a glimpse of what’s possible when cities use densification not just to build higher, but to build fairer. Can São Paulo’s new approach show the way for other cities?
Reading Time: 3 minutesSustainability reporting poses challenges for SMEs, hindering their green transition. To overcome this, accessible tools and simplified frameworks are needed, enabling SMEs to effectively demonstrate their sustainability performance and access green financing opportunities.
Reading Time: < 1 minuteWith Urban Partners, learn about the intersection between investment management and local and national projects promoting climate and social sustainability, emphasizing inclusive investment and the importance of thriving communities.
Reading Time: 4 minutesIntellectual Property (IP)- backed financing offers an opportunity for SMEs to find funding. This approach is still in its early days, and there are challenges to be overcome, however programs like WIPO’s IP Management Clinic can help SMEs navigate this space.
Reading Time: 4 minutesHigh inflation has driven SME interest rates up by 30% in 2022, making alternative finance like venture capital crucial for growth. Governments are working to develop VC markets.