Bernard COHEN-HADAD, L’avenir appartient aux PME, Editions DUNOD, 156 pages, 2024

While many economic articles talk about the CAC 40 and ETIs on a daily basis, it’s worth remembering that French SMEs represent 150,000 companies, more than 4 million employees (29% of the workforce) and, symbolically, almost €1,000 billion in sales.

The author places particular emphasis on the presence of SMEs in the local economic fabric, which they animate through the “presential economy”. This gives them a human and civic dimension, through the multiplicity and diversity of the skills they possess, as opposed to large companies that have often relocated tasks with lower added value.

The first part is about “Better Living”. Here we find the ideas of benevolence, sharing the fruits of growth and working in the regions.

The second part focuses on “breathing easier”. It explains the advantages for the ISR of digitisation as a “national cause” and the greening of funding. The final proposal on the EPZs does not call them into question but recommends a more concerted deployment schedule with businesses.

The next part deals with the issue of “living together better”. This more committed section begins with a plea for support for SMEs through a redistributive supply-side policy. The author takes a stand on recent or pending reforms to the organisation of work (pensions, freedom to demonstrate peacefully, Sunday work, etc.).

The fourth part, “Making better decisions”, is more political and advocates the courage of unpopularity. It recommends that the Left rethink its image of business and that the Right reaffirm its social and entrepreneurial values. And he concludes with the need to resume dialogue between stakeholders to ensure that SMEs are properly integrated into society.

The final section, “Better integration”, makes recommendations on the integration of young people, immigration, difficult neighbourhoods and the place of religion.

In the future, these SMEs will be faced with the challenges of mastering digitisation, increasing complexity (regulatory, fiscal, environmental) and the transfer of ownership.

This book is very well structured, with many concrete proposals. The focus sections at the end of each part allow you to go further on a number of subjects (e.g. SMEs and the Circular Economy).

We can’t help but appreciate this spotlight on SMEs, which are often overlooked at a time when new generations are looking to this type of business for its agility and human scale.

After the “start-up nation”, the author recommends the “SME nation”. Quite a programme !

Bernard Cohen-Haddad is Chairman of CPME Paris Ile de France. He chairs a THINK Tank and the economic commission of CESER Ile de France.

Review written by Olivier STEPHAN