The european managers of SMES show themselves to be slightly more optimistic, writes a survey conducted by the firm EY. But they continue to watch feverishly the return of the growth.
The bosses of SMES are (a little) more optimistic than expected. This is what emerges from the first european barometer conducted among 6,000 leaders of 21 countries by the firm EY. 51% of them say they are satisfied with the current activity of their business and they are 36% say somewhat satisfied. 51% is also the percentage of French top managers, who evaluate positively their current activity. About the future of their company, 52% of the heads of a French company look with optimism to the coming six months. This is more than the european average, which is stagnating under the bar of 50% (to 46%).
Less confident in their country
As often in this kind of study, the bosses are less confident about the future of their country as only 32% of businesses expect an improvement. The French, they are 27% think that things will evolve positively. Conversely, the Greeks and the Germans seem to crush black: they are, respectively, 14% and 19% to see the situation improve.
Among the issues put forward, the question of financing comes up very often. 47% of heads of French companies say they have a difficult access or very difficult to fund. France is the fourth nation with the worst ranking on this theme.
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The concerns of SMES are concentrated around two main axes : the rise of raw materials (38% see it as a real risk) and the low growth in their country (37%) and Europe (32%). In France, the sluggish growth is the first risk (46%) as the low growth at the european level (35%).
Reduce taxes and constraints
If company managers do not perceive positively the economic policies, they have nevertheless a clear expectation : the increase in public investment. This application collects 63% of the vote (and 62% in France). Note that for the bosses the germans, the main source of demand (56%) related to the reduction of the public debt.
The other great expectation regarding the tax relief (69%) and administrative procedures (42%).
As regards the outlook for employment and investment, they are still a bit shy. 29% of bosses think they increase their investment and 26% are considering to hire in the next six months. 9%, on the contrary, are considering to reduce their workforce. They are 7% in France.