Las PYME españolascaracterización en el marco de la Unión Europea y estudio descriptivo y exploratorio por comunidades autónomas (1998-2001)

Laburpena

This article substantiates and characterises the diversity of dimensions and behaviour patterns to be found amongst the SMEs. Both in the case of the EU, in which we point out the differences between SME models in Southern and Central European countries, and in the case of Spain and of its autonomous communities (AC). In this respect, the article describes, characterises, arranges and examines the information offered by the Spanish Registrar Association Statistical Process Centres regarding micro, small and medium-sized companies by A.C. for the period 1998-2001. By applying statistical cluster techniques, categorical regression and non-parametric tests of related samples, the analysis performed reveals the existence of four size-autonomous community groups in the Spanish SMEs, which basically characterise: 1) the micro and smaller-sized companies operating in lower regional income level ACs; 2) the micro and small companies which, though still small-sized, operate in high income level ACs; 3) medium-sized companies, irrespective of the autonomous community where they are based; and 4) the larger-sized island SMEs.