THE USE OF PUBLIC FINANCIAL SUPPORT: STUDY OF MICRO-ENTERPRISES

At times when businesses are expected to contribute to economic growth, the topic of access to finance remains relevant. The study investigates the availability of public financial support for micro-enterprises which similarly to the European average is the largest enterprise category in Latvia (about 94%). In an ad hoc survey of the companies registered in Latvia in nationally defined sectors, entrepreneurs disclosed their sources of funding over the three-year period of 2015-2017. Valid responses from 2511 companies, of which 1879 were micro-enterprises, revealed not only the diversity of their financial sources but also funding conditions impracticable to companies. According to the data processed by SPSS, micro-enterprises still prefer bank financing (11%) among many sources, whereas only 4% of the respondents used loans supported by public funding. Surprisingly, while almost half of the micro-enterprises required new or additional funding, a large number relied solely on internal finance. Rejections were frequent not only from banks, but also from the institution providing for public financial support.