Source page: McKinsey & Company
Commentary
The vast majority of European small businesses view the economy as weak
COVID-19 | Europe | Small business
November 9, 2020 – Overall, 80 percent of small and medium-size businesses surveyed in Europe view the economy as somewhat to extremely weak. But sentiment varies among countries, with the most optimistic businesses in Germany and the least optimistic in Italy and Spain.
To read the article, see “COVID-19 and European small and medium-size enterprises: How they are weathering the storm,” October 22, 2020.
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Visual form
Country comparison sentiment chart.
Layout / body structure
The chart is a single panel comparing SME economic sentiment across major European countries. Read country by country to see how much of each respondent group rates the economy as weak versus strong, then compare the mix across countries.
What is being compared
It compares how small and medium-size enterprises in different European countries assess the strength of the economy. The comparison is across country sentiment, with Germany on the more optimistic end and Italy and Spain on the weaker end.
Measurement system
The measure is the share of surveyed SMEs falling into sentiment categories from somewhat strong to extremely strong and from somewhat weak to extremely weak. Country labels identify each bar or segment group, and the percentage split shows how confidence differs across markets.
Visible structure inside the graphic
The chart is organized as a country-by-country sentiment comparison, with most of the visual weight in the weak-economy portions and a smaller strong-economy portion in the more optimistic markets. The repeated country structure lets the reader see overall pessimism while still distinguishing the relative bright spots.
Main takeaway from the visual
The overwhelming visual pattern is weakness, not balance. Most European SMEs rate the economy as weak, and while Germany stands out as more resilient, the chart makes Italy and Spain look notably more downbeat than the rest.
Key standout values or extremes
The primary anchor is that 80 percent of SMEs overall viewed the economy as somewhat to extremely weak. Germany is the most optimistic outlier, with 39 percent rating the economy as somewhat strong to extremely strong, while Italy is the weakest anchor on that measure at just 10 percent, with Spain also near the bottom end of the comparison.
Controls / sequence, when applicable
This is a static chart image with no in-chart controls to operate.
Companion media, when applicable
There is no separate companion audio or video; the chart image is the full visual on this page.