Lack of Resilience and Failure of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Morocco: Current Situation and Key Determinants

Abstract

Without a doubt, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of the economies in developing countries, including Morocco. Unfortunately, in Morocco, over 10,556 businesses went out of business in 2021, marking a 59% increase compared to 2020 and an 82% increase compared to 2015. The vast majority of these failures were among SMEs, accounting for over 99.5% of the total. In this alarming context, the aim of this chapter is to examine the lack of resilience and the failure of SMEs in Morocco, along with their primary causes. The study's results reveal two main findings. First, the lack of resilience and the failure of SMEs in Morocco represent a concerning phenomenon. Second, the causes of this failure are specifically associated with deficiencies in financial resources, management tools, and skills. This research has several contributions, both theoretical and managerial.