77 there are potentially useful ideas that Argentina can consider as the government looks to simplify the taxation structures. Government Stability Argentina’s long history of economic and political instability has been a major issue for SMEs that are forced to constantly revise their strategic business plans and operations. A consistent policy toward SMEs will bear fruitful results as they are the backbone of the economy. Due to the existing lack of trust in the government, community-based financial institutions are crucial in re-establishing trust in federally supported programs. These will act as a bridge to connect small businesses to the multitude of underutilized government benefits. The government needs to commit to a bipartisan long-term plan that is drafted to provide clarity and certainty in terms of its support for SMEs. Currently, the Ministry of Productive Development oversees SMEs within one of its subcategories. In order to minimize political volatility and frequent policy changes, the Argentina legislature should create a freestanding ministry, agency, or branch that focuses on SME development. This independent division would set long-term objectives that would not fluctuate with changes in presidencies. On paper, Argentina already has launched a diverse series of programs meant to help SMEs; however, most of them either are underutilized or not operating at promised levels. In 2012, the Argentine government established the BEC.AR scholarship program, which funds overseas training of Argentine professionals to promote scientific and technological development in the country (Ministry of Education, 2021). Within this overarching initiative is a specific program that funds technical visits and short training programs, lasting up to nine months, for professionals who work within the SME sector or for major corporations. While the program calls for proposals from all companies, including SMEs, the eligibility criteria make it more difficult for SMEs than for larger, multinational companies to apply. To be eligible, applicant companies must provide lengthy paperwork requirements; a formal “proposal for theoretical and/or practical training to participate in scientific and technological research,” which are of “priority development for the country”; meet specific educational or professional experience requirements; and require “something in return” from the applicant company (Ministry of Education, 2021). For small businesses, addressing these requirements is much more difficult and time-consuming than for larger firms. In addition, at the time of this research, the portal reflected no current postings and only one outdated posting for short stays in France and Spain. Besides not operating at its promised level of providing a platform for various training opportunities, the guidelines of BEC.AR are not welcoming and supportive for SMEs. Because the infrastructure for this system already exists, it should be better utilized to ensure SME support. Argentina’s revenue service Administración Federal de Ingresos Públicos (equivalent to the IRS in the United States) also offers a specific SME portal on their site (SME Portal, 2021). In addition to allowing for the registration of micro, small, and medium-sized companies, the portal claims to provide benefits for registered SMEs, including a reduced rate for employer contributions, credits for microenterprises, payment plans and garnishments, and special financing for microbusinesses. Compared to the general employer contributions of 25.5% for corporations in Argentina, SMEs are eligible for a reduced rate of 18% (PwC, 2021). The credits for microenterprises allow businesses to apply for a credit line to acquire equipment or for other investments from Banco de la Nación Argentina through its “Emprende Nation!” initiative. Although this program is a good starting point, the information and application portal offer limited details and require a form submission with basic personal information before the bank contacts a customer to discuss options. Many Argentinians already distrust the country’s major financial institutions, and this inaccessible platform further discourages the use of such resources. The program’s Payment Plans and Garnishments section initially appears promising, with SMEs receiving the benefit of repaying tax debt obligations through up
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