It is no secret: small and mid-size firms are the backbone of economies everywhere. They account for more than 9 out of every 10 businesses. They generate half of all jobs. Yet the actual trajectory of economic growth and prosperity is determined by a different type of firm—businesses lucky or plucky enough to make it big.

High-performing economies tend to have a larger share of employment in big, competitive firms than other countries. Such firms are usually more productive and have better market intelligence: they can lower production costs while making high-quality investments and reaching the markets they need to succeed. They are more likely to innovate, more likely to export, and more likely to adopt international standards of quality. They typically pay higher wages and provide more secure employment than small firms.