A Synthetic Indicator of the Quality of Support for Businesses in Burkina-Faso, Cameroon, and Ghana

Kouam, Jean and Asongu, Simplice and Meh, Bin and Nantchouang, Robert and Asanga, Fri and Foretia, Denis (2022): A Synthetic Indicator of the Quality of Support for Businesses in Burkina-Faso, Cameroon, and Ghana.

Abstract

This paper proposes a synthetic indicator of the quality of support for companies as well as identifies the factors that can contribute towards improving the quality of such support in three countries (i.e., Burkina-Faso, Cameroon, and Ghana). The approach used to construct this synthetic indicator builds on the works of Benzécri (1973) and Asselin (2002), who use static mechanics and apply techniques of factor analysis. A principal component analysis is performed on the data collected from 80 business support structures in the sampled countries. Afterconstructing the indicators, correlates are provided on how the constructed indicators are linked to the objectives of sustainable development. Our results are robust after controlling for variables relating to the general characteristics of the support structure. The findings are consistent with the thesis that taking sustainable development objectives into account in business support practices would significantly improve business performance in sampled countries and, by extension, in sub-Saharan Africa. The originality of the study stems from the fact that it considers specific SDGs (SDG4, SDG5, SDG8, and SDG9) and assesses their contribution to improving the quality of support for companies, a research area that has not been investigated hitherto by the extant literature. Implications for all stakeholders in the entrepreneurial ecosystem are discussed.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Synthetic indicator; Quality of support; Businesses; Sub-Saharan Africa
• Subjects: C - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods > C3 - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models ; Multiple Variables > C30 - General; M - Business Administration and Business Economics ; Marketing ; Accounting ; Personnel Economics > M2 - Business Economics > M20 - General; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O1 - Economic Development > O10 - General; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O3 - Innovation ; Research and Development ; Technological Change ; Intellectual Property Rights > O30 - General; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O5 - Economywide Country Studies > O55 - Africa

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