| Abstract [eng] |
Aim of the thesis – to evaluate the effectiveness of aid rendered to SME’s. The subject of the thesis – aid to small and medium sized business. Goals of the thesis: 1. To analyse the theoretical aspects, methods and forms of aid to SME’s, prove the necessity and expected usefulness thereof to SME’s and the forms of evaluation of SME financing using sustainable development criteria; 2. Prepare a methodology for the evaluation of effectiveness of aid to SME’s on the basis of the analysis of theoretical and statistical data; 3. Perform a form based survey in order to establish what information is necessary in evaluating the effectiveness of aid to SME’s; 4. Evaluate the effectiveness of aid to SME’s, using the methodology prepared and taking the companies that participated in the survey as an example; 5. Provide recommendations for increasing effectiveness of aid to SME’s. Methods of research – Scientific literature, statistical data and comparative analysis, synthesis, generalisation, form based survey of companies. A number of tools for providing aid to SME’s exist starting with financial aid and ending with the expansion of information infrastructure and institutions. In executing the policy of Lithuania regarding aid to SME’s it is imperative to evaluate the effectiveness of aid to SME’s and to choose the most effective tools with regard to sustainable development. There are many important criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of aid, thus any analysis thereof must cover many criteria. Such an analysis may be performed both on the level of an individual business, as well as throughout an entire country or region. Thus a number of criteria may be applied when evaluating the effectiveness of aid to SME’s both on the level of an individual business and throughout an entire country or region and must encompass all dimensions of sustainable development, i.e. economic, social and ecological. From the results obtained we can conclude that the best form of aid are structural funds. They have a substantial positive effect on performance indicators and are used the most effectively in implementing the sustainable development model described in the sustainable development law of the Republic of Lithuania. As a result we can disprove the hypothesis that aid to small and medium sized business is ineffective in implementing the sustainable development model, stated in the beginning of the thesis. The results show that SME’s, which receive aid, perform in accordance with the sustainable development model and this is proved by the main fields where aid is used. It was established that aid received by SME’s did not affect the use of new/advanced technologies, the amount of exports and the increase of salaries. Thus programmes, which encourage innovative processes within those companies, concessions must be made for companies, which deal with the export of goods and investment into human capital must be increased. The final master’s thesis contains 84 pages, 20 figures, 14tables, 63 sources, 1 appendix. |
