Title: Barriers to micro, small and medium enterprise growth in the Fiji Islands: an empirical estimation using OLS regression model

Authors: Suwastika Naidu; Anand Chand

Addresses: Faculty of Business and Economics, School of Management and Public Administration, University of the South Pacific, Private Mail Bag, Suva, Fiji. ' Faculty of Business and Economics, School of Management and Public Administration, University of the South Pacific, Private Mail Bag, Suva, Fiji

Abstract: The primary aim of this research is to compare the problems faced by the MSMEs in the Fiji Islands with the MSMEs in the UK. In order to achieve this aim, Cromie (1991) research framework was used to collect data from the Fiji Islands and later the research findings were compared to Cromie's (1991) study titled 'The problems experienced by young firms'. Using cross sectional data of 247 MSMEs from the Fiji Islands, this study outlines the severity of the problems faced by the MSMEs and the impact of these problems on the profitability of the MSMEs. Similar to the Cromie's (1991) study, this study configured that financial problems are the most severe problem faced by the MSMEs in both the retailing and the manufacturing sector.

Keywords: small business; entrepreneurship; problems; profitability; finance; marketing; human resources; operations; Fiji Islands; micro firms; small and medium-sized enterprises; SMEs; UK; United Kingdom; retailing; manufacturing industry.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2012.047113

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2012 Vol.16 No.2, pp.147 - 163

Published online: 14 Aug 2014 *

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