Confesercenti Modena comments on the incentives for self-entrepreneurship contained in the Cohesion Decree, approved in recent days by the Council of Ministers, and reserved for young people up to 35 years of age, those unemployed for at least 12 months or in a marginal situation.
A first answer
MODENA – “Incentives for self-employment can be a useful first response to stem the collapse in the births of new businesses: in the last four years the number of openings of new businesses, even in our province, has remained constantly below pre-pandemic levels, for a total of over 1350 companies that have never been created. To be truly effective, however, the range of possible beneficiaries should be broadened, for example by raising the age limit to at least 40 years. Otherwise the effect risks being limited: the company cannot be seen only as an alternative to unemployment” coment Mauro Rossi, Provincial President of Confesercenti Modena.
Collapse of new businesses
The openings of new businesses in the province have in fact collapsed with the anti-Covid restrictions, going from over 4,250 in 2019 to just over 3,400 in 2020, over 800 less. And they haven’t recovered yet: in 2023 we recorded 4,000 openings, still around 250 fewer than the last year before the pandemic.
A generalized closure
In particular, the trade sector, in these post-pandemic years, records almost 25% fewer new openings and at the same time suffers from a significant number of closures, which also in 2023 leads to a balance of -298 activities in the province, -190 in retail trade only. Even the bar/restaurant sector, which has maintained a more lively opening dynamic, recorded a negative balance of -99 activities in 2023, demonstrating the difficulties that even these small businesses face in remaining on the market.
Worrying data
“The slowdown in business births is worrying: to grow the economy and employment we need new economic activities – continues Rossi – For some time our national Association has been calling for interventions to encourage the start-up of businesses, also focusing on innovation and sustainable processes. And we must not only encourage their birth, but also give them the tools to remain on the market. The measures for self-entrepreneurship must therefore be accompanied by training and tutoring courses, which are mandatory and last at least three years, or their continued existence will be ephemeral. The dramatic data on the birth rate and reduction in the life cycle of small businesses suggest that we must accompany new businesses, making them capable of competing in an increasingly changeable and complex market. Our Association stands alongside entrepreneurs with services and useful responses to relaunch the culture of doing business, once characteristic of our economic system, which needs the vitality and energy of SMEs“.
