Foreign experience of State support for small and Medium-sized Businesses

The article examines the global experience of supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the criteria used for classifying them as small businesses in different countries. The main indicators of SME development levels in various countries are analyzed. Studies of the institutional and economic mechanisms of state support for small and medium-sized businesses across different nations highlight their common features. The global system for supporting small and medium-sized enterprises is discussed. As a result of the analysis, both the positive and negative aspects of foreign experiences in stimulating small businesses are identified. Criteria for classifying small businesses in different countries are provided, and the key indicators of SME development are analyzed. By studying the institutional and economic mechanisms of state support for small and medium-sized businesses in various countries, it becomes possible to identify shared characteristics. In countries with developed market economies, trends such as the consistent transfer of state support and associated costs to regional and local levels, a reduction in direct financial assistance, the expansion of indirect support methods, and the widespread use of tax incentives are observed.