새 정부의 바람직한 중소기업 정책방향

A study on new government’s policy direction for SMEs

In the 21st century, the size and role of the private sector has grown to a great extent. Also a noticeable change is expected in the direction and pace of progress with the development of high technology and expanding information services. Industrial structures will become more technology-and knowledge-intensive. They will be backed up by new technology like computers and communications technology. In addition, the increasing diversified demand of consumers makes the goods of companies variegated in small quantities. The free movement of capital will accelerate globalized industrial acitveites. These trends has shifted its policy from the so-called “old fashioed support measure” to the new one of actively responding to innovations of the 21st century. Old fashioned excessive support measures towards SMEs can weaken theior viability, lowers their competitiveness and make them dependent on the government. What makes matters worse, there is so-called “moral hazard”, that is, relying on government support and avoiding efforts to improve productivity and reform management and technology. In this respect, new government’s policy direction is to improve the structure and international competitiveness of SMEs and to reduce competition-restrictive systems, so as to keep ahead of the changes and challenges in the new era in which they are expected to play a leading role. Therefore, the government helps SMEs develop their own capabilities to win fierce competition on the basis of flexibility and creativity unique to them. Also, the government is actively working on easing restrictions on enterprise activities, abolishing competition-restrictive measures aimed at protecting SMEs, promoting management suited to a global standard.