Is small still beautiful? The recent economic and financial crisis has shown that developed countries in which firms are smaller suffered the biggest GDP plunges. Today, economic growth depends more than in the past on sound and well-organized firms, which means more innovation, a better educated labor force, higher likelihood of access to financial resources and efficient investments. This does not mean the end of small-sized firms, but that they need to be different from the way they were in the past. This book provides an international perspective on analyses and policy recommendations for how small businesses can reinforce their role in modern economies.

Giorgio Calcagnini is Professor of Economics at the University of Urbino, Italy, where he teaches courses and conducts applied research on investment, macro- and micro-economic theory, and the financial system. He was a researcher at ISCO and at the Confindustria, both in Rome. Ilario Favaretto is Professor of Regional Economics at the University of Urbino, Italy. His current research focuses on the role of small businesses adopting an international perspective and expecially focusing on European policies.