German Economy Stagnates Amidst Policy Uncertainty and High Costs
Germany's GDP fell 0.2% in 2024 and 0.3% in 2023 due to high energy costs, a shortage of skilled workers, high taxes, and uncertainty surrounding the new heating law, prompting concerns about the nation's economic future.
German Economy Stagnates Amidst Policy Uncertainty and High Costs
Germany's GDP fell 0.2% in 2024 and 0.3% in 2023 due to high energy costs, a shortage of skilled workers, high taxes, and uncertainty surrounding the new heating law, prompting concerns about the nation's economic future.
Progress
52% Bias Score
German Retail SMEs Face Severe Sales Crisis
German retail SMEs experienced significant sales drops in November (-1.1%) and December (-0.9%) 2023 compared to previous months, missing the usual Christmas sales boost, unlike the overall retail sector. December 2023 sales were 2.2% lower than in December 2022, following a 4.4% drop in December 20...
German Retail SMEs Face Severe Sales Crisis
German retail SMEs experienced significant sales drops in November (-1.1%) and December (-0.9%) 2023 compared to previous months, missing the usual Christmas sales boost, unlike the overall retail sector. December 2023 sales were 2.2% lower than in December 2022, following a 4.4% drop in December 20...
Progress
44% Bias Score
Turkey Extends Force Majeure for Earthquake-Hit SMEs
Turkey extended force majeure for 80% of SMEs in Kahramanmaraş earthquake-affected cities until May 31, 2024, impacting 73,087 businesses with 2022 turnover under 2.5 million lira (approx. 6 million lira by 2024), per a statement by Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek.
Turkey Extends Force Majeure for Earthquake-Hit SMEs
Turkey extended force majeure for 80% of SMEs in Kahramanmaraş earthquake-affected cities until May 31, 2024, impacting 73,087 businesses with 2022 turnover under 2.5 million lira (approx. 6 million lira by 2024), per a statement by Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek.
Progress
36% Bias Score
Nigeria's Cash Crunch: Policy Failures and Public Outcry
Nigeria is experiencing a severe cash shortage due to the hasty implementation of a cashless policy, increased use of POS operators, and government fiscal mismanagement, leading to public outcry and demands for solutions.
Nigeria's Cash Crunch: Policy Failures and Public Outcry
Nigeria is experiencing a severe cash shortage due to the hasty implementation of a cashless policy, increased use of POS operators, and government fiscal mismanagement, leading to public outcry and demands for solutions.
Progress
60% Bias Score
Kit Digital Extends Grants for Spanish SMEs in 2025
Spain's Kit Digital program, funded by NextGenerationEU, extends its grant program in 2025, offering up to €29,000 to SMEs with 100-249 employees and €25,000 to those with 50-99 employees, to improve their digital presence with the help of digital agents.
Kit Digital Extends Grants for Spanish SMEs in 2025
Spain's Kit Digital program, funded by NextGenerationEU, extends its grant program in 2025, offering up to €29,000 to SMEs with 100-249 employees and €25,000 to those with 50-99 employees, to improve their digital presence with the help of digital agents.
Progress
48% Bias Score
"Spain's Economic Measures to Heavily Impact SMEs in 2025"
"Spain's government plans to raise the minimum wage by around 4% in 2025, reduce the maximum legal workweek to 37.5 hours, and increase social security contributions, leading to concerns from Spain's SME employers' association (Cepyme) about the impact on smaller businesses, whose labor costs are al...
"Spain's Economic Measures to Heavily Impact SMEs in 2025"
"Spain's government plans to raise the minimum wage by around 4% in 2025, reduce the maximum legal workweek to 37.5 hours, and increase social security contributions, leading to concerns from Spain's SME employers' association (Cepyme) about the impact on smaller businesses, whose labor costs are al...
Progress
48% Bias Score
Greece Launches €200 Million SME Export Support Program
The Greek government launched a €200 million program to boost SME exports, funding business plans, market research, and digital upgrades for eligible manufacturing SMEs within the 2021-2027 ESPA Competitiveness program.
Greece Launches €200 Million SME Export Support Program
The Greek government launched a €200 million program to boost SME exports, funding business plans, market research, and digital upgrades for eligible manufacturing SMEs within the 2021-2027 ESPA Competitiveness program.
Progress
32% Bias Score
Spanish SMEs' Strong Financials Defy Claims of Reduced Workweek Inviability
Data from the Bank of Spain and AEAT shows Spanish SMEs' profitability and productivity have increased significantly since 2019, refuting claims that a reduction in working hours to 37.5 is economically unfeasible; low debt levels and increased productivity support the change.
Spanish SMEs' Strong Financials Defy Claims of Reduced Workweek Inviability
Data from the Bank of Spain and AEAT shows Spanish SMEs' profitability and productivity have increased significantly since 2019, refuting claims that a reduction in working hours to 37.5 is economically unfeasible; low debt levels and increased productivity support the change.
Progress
48% Bias Score
France Eases Public Procurement Access for SMEs Amidst Looming Debt Crisis
France's new government enacted two decrees in late December 2024 to simplify public procurement for SMEs, offering limited relief amid a looming debt crisis that may curb public spending in 2025, despite a previous, stalled, reform aiming to streamline the €171 billion public procurement market.
France Eases Public Procurement Access for SMEs Amidst Looming Debt Crisis
France's new government enacted two decrees in late December 2024 to simplify public procurement for SMEs, offering limited relief amid a looming debt crisis that may curb public spending in 2025, despite a previous, stalled, reform aiming to streamline the €171 billion public procurement market.
Progress
40% Bias Score
UK Budget Measures Threaten Family-Run Construction Firms
The Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) warns that the UK government's budget will "fatally undermine" family-run construction companies due to changes in Business Property Relief and Inheritance Tax, impacting investment, hiring, and expansion plans, and potentially jeopardizing the governmen...
UK Budget Measures Threaten Family-Run Construction Firms
The Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) warns that the UK government's budget will "fatally undermine" family-run construction companies due to changes in Business Property Relief and Inheritance Tax, impacting investment, hiring, and expansion plans, and potentially jeopardizing the governmen...
Progress
48% Bias Score
UK Entrepreneurship: Booming Registrations Despite Economic Headwinds
The UK's entrepreneurial ecosystem shows record-high business registrations and VC funding, but faces challenges from Brexit, increased taxes, and rising labor costs, with the government attempting to balance fiscal responsibility and growth-friendly policies.
UK Entrepreneurship: Booming Registrations Despite Economic Headwinds
The UK's entrepreneurial ecosystem shows record-high business registrations and VC funding, but faces challenges from Brexit, increased taxes, and rising labor costs, with the government attempting to balance fiscal responsibility and growth-friendly policies.
Progress
40% Bias Score
Rome Hosts First International Nautical Salon, Showcasing Italy's Booming Industry
The first International Nautical Salon in Rome, organized by Afina until December 15th, displays around 250 Italian boats (6-15 meters), boosting the sector's revival and showcasing the importance of small and medium-sized businesses; the event aims to increase the nautical industry's contribution t...
Rome Hosts First International Nautical Salon, Showcasing Italy's Booming Industry
The first International Nautical Salon in Rome, organized by Afina until December 15th, displays around 250 Italian boats (6-15 meters), boosting the sector's revival and showcasing the importance of small and medium-sized businesses; the event aims to increase the nautical industry's contribution t...
Progress
40% Bias Score