We present a descriptive analysis of the results of Mexico’s 2009 Economic Census regarding the use of bank credit and accounts by productive entities (companies). INEGI was requested to prepare a set of statistics regarding various company characteristics that are relevant to the decisions made by institutions offering banking services. Information was grouped according to company size and to different business segments we defined based on their access to credit and/or use of banking services. This enabled to establish the size of the markets for bank credit and bank accounts, as well as to identify the phenomena of “voluntary rationing” and “involuntary rationing” (Stiglitz and Weiss 1981). Potential markets for 2008 are 1.5 million companies for bank credit and of 1.1 million companies for bank accounts. Involuntary rationing mostly impacts smaller companies and is more pronounced in the context of the use of bank accounts than in that of credit.
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This paper focuses on MSMEs and public policies aimed at fostering their development in the Costa Rican economy. I use an alternative approach to classify economic activity that allows us me to more accurately determine inequalities between traditional long-established activities in the economy and newly emerging activities characterized by their great dynamism. Results provide evidence of the evolution of a development style that magnifies the presence of different types of economies that have their own dynamics and marked inequalities among them, putting traditional activities, less skilled workers and MSMEs at a disadvantage. These sectors have to perform in an environment of accelerated international integration. Public policies have been implemented but have been insufficient to distribute the benefits generated by the momentum provided to the “new economy”.
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