ABSTRACT
The purpose of this chapter is to analyse standard criteria and approaches used in the definition of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), summarise small and medium enterprise definitions of various authorities, and provide up-to-date evidence of key indicators describing the situation of SMEs operating in Greece in comparison with other countries of the European Union. The last data available from Eurostat has been used for the analysis purposes. The chapter ultimately attempts to provide answers to crucial questions such as which are the main quantitative and qualitative criteria used for SMEs’ definition; how SME is defined in different countries, organizations, and researchers; which is the current situation of SMEs in Greece; which is their structure and contribution to employment and economic activity in the European context; and finally, which are the main constraints preventing Greek small- and medium-sized enterprises from growing and generating more jobs and economic growth during the period under investigation.
