Are small- and medium-sized enterprises more likely to innovate when facing informal competition? Evidence from Kazakhstan

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate whether Kazakh small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that claim to compete with the informal sector are more likely to invest in innovation than their competitors who do not perceive such pressure.Design/methodology/approachLogistic regression and classification trees are performed on the Business Environment and Enterprise Performance Survey (2018-2020) to examine whether the degree of informal competition correlates with a firm's propensity to innovate.FindingsThe findings show that informal sector competition is a critical factor that shapes the organizational behaviour of Kazakh SMEs. There is a stimulating positive effect of informal competition on both product and process innovation, depending on its perceived intensity.Originality/valueThis study challenges conventional thinking that still views informal sector competition as a barrier to innovation and entrepreneurship by assessing whether innovation is compatible with informal entrepreneurial practice.