Understanding the Dynamics of SME Activity Using Open Data

Abstract

Conducting quantitative analysis on regional small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) presents various challenges because of the limited availability of data sets and analytical resources. Nonetheless, the development of data science has made open data and detailed databases, provided by private companies and governments, more accessible in recent years. Additionally, open-source software now makes it possible to carry out these analyses. This paper offers an overview of these data sources and specific analyses to illustrate. These emerging datasets and analysis tools have made it more practical to employ research methods that were previously unfeasible.