Economist says SMEs need 'zero interest loans' to get through Covid-19 crisis

Economist Jim Power

The 270,000 small firms in the State which between them employ 1.1 million are owed an average of €75,000 each — showing the urgency of Government measures to help liquidity for SMEs, business groups have said.

The calculations — which come from economist Jim Power and based on a survey of members of business group Isme — underscores the importance of liquidity required to keep large parts of the economy from going under completely.