Micro-Enterprises in Rio Negro Parish, Banos Canton: Economic Affectation by the Covid-19 Pandemic

ABSTRACT

When we talk about microenterprises, we automatically relate it with sources of employment, and it is really so, but what happened to these small microenterprises when the unexpected pandemic, better known as COVID-19, appeared, it imme-diately generated a high impact, because it brought with it illnesses, deaths, but above all it paralyzed all economic activities in microenterprises. The research was conducted in the Rio Negro parish, Banos de Agua Santa canton, to analyze the economic impact of Covid-19 on microenterprises. A questionnaire adapted from the survey impact of Covid-19 on enter-prises, developed by the International Trade Center of the World Trade Organization, was applied to a sample of 109 micro -entrepreneurs. The validity of the results is evaluated through Pearson's Chi-Square correlating the variables. It is confirmed that there is an economic impact on micro-enterprises in Rio Negro during the pandemic. The study demonstrates the need to shape public policies to address the conditions of microenterprises in the midst of the pandemic.