IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/ecmode/v137y2024ics0264999324001330.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Fintech, information heterogeneity, and the regional distribution effects of corporate financing constraints

Author

Listed:
  • Lu, Yao
  • Li, Lu
  • Zhan, Huanqi
  • Zhan, Minghua

Abstract

Considering the transformative impact of Fintech on financial structures, this paper examines Fintech's role in promoting equitable development in developing countries from the lens of credit constraints. While existing research acknowledges that Fintech reduces information asymmetry and thereby alleviates financing constraints, it overlooks the varied impacts on different types of information. This study categorizes information into two types: standardized information that can be codified and non-standardized information that requires “tacit understanding.” Using bank-enterprise relationship data in China from 2010 to 2021, we find that Fintech acts as a “double-edged sword.” It enhances banks' abilities to access standardized information, mitigating financing constraints in less developed areas, but also weakens their capability to process non-standardized information, potentially undermining these benefits. Additionally, the impact of Fintech varies depending on company size and ownership. Our study also shows that refinancing policies are more effective than fiscal subsidies in overcoming the limitations of Fintech.

Suggested Citation

  • Lu, Yao & Li, Lu & Zhan, Huanqi & Zhan, Minghua, 2024. "Fintech, information heterogeneity, and the regional distribution effects of corporate financing constraints," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecmode:v:137:y:2024:i:c:s0264999324001330
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econmod.2024.106777
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264999324001330
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.econmod.2024.106777?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hyytinen, Ari & Toivanen, Otto, 2005. "Do financial constraints hold back innovation and growth?: Evidence on the role of public policy," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 34(9), pages 1385-1403, November.
    2. Lv, Panpan & Xiong, Hu, 2022. "Can FinTech improve corporate investment efficiency? Evidence from China," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    3. Kaiji Chen & Jue Ren & Tao Zha, 2018. "The Nexus of Monetary Policy and Shadow Banking in China," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 108(12), pages 3891-3936, December.
    4. Ana Paula Matias gama & Howard Van auken, 2015. "The Interdependence between Trade Credit and Bank Lending: Commitment in Intermediary Firm Relationships," Journal of Small Business Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 53(4), pages 886-904, October.
    5. Greg Buchak & Gregor Matvos & Tomasz Piskorski & Amit Seru, 2024. "Beyond the Balance Sheet Model of Banking: Implications for Bank Regulation and Monetary Policy," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 132(2), pages 616-693.
    6. Arnoud W. A. Boot & Anjan V. Thakor, 2000. "Can Relationship Banking Survive Competition?," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 55(2), pages 679-713, April.
    7. Ross Levine, 1997. "Financial Development and Economic Growth: Views and Agenda," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 35(2), pages 688-726, June.
    8. Degryse, Hans & Van Cayseele, Patrick, 2000. "Relationship Lending within a Bank-Based System: Evidence from European Small Business Data," Journal of Financial Intermediation, Elsevier, vol. 9(1), pages 90-109, January.
    9. Robert M. Solow, 1994. "Perspectives on Growth Theory," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 8(1), pages 45-54, Winter.
    10. Ullah, Barkat, 2020. "Financial constraints, corruption, and SME growth in transition economies," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 120-132.
    11. Berger, Allen N & Udell, Gregory F, 1995. "Relationship Lending and Lines of Credit in Small Firm Finance," The Journal of Business, University of Chicago Press, vol. 68(3), pages 351-381, July.
    12. Tan, Zhuohong & Wang, Handi & Hong, Yunzhe, 2023. "Does bank FinTech improve corporate innovation?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 55(PA).
    13. Lin, Chen & Ma, Yue & Malatesta, Paul & Xuan, Yuhai, 2011. "Ownership structure and the cost of corporate borrowing," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 100(1), pages 1-23, April.
    14. Blundell, Richard & Bond, Stephen, 1998. "Initial conditions and moment restrictions in dynamic panel data models," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 87(1), pages 115-143, August.
    15. Guan, JianCheng & Pang, Lanxin, 2017. "Industry specific effects on innovation performance in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 125-137.
    16. Marko Jakšič & Matej Marinč, 2019. "Relationship banking and information technology: the role of artificial intelligence and FinTech," Risk Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 21(1), pages 1-18, March.
    17. Hennessy, Christopher A. & Levy, Amnon & Whited, Toni M., 2007. "Testing Q theory with financing frictions," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 83(3), pages 691-717, March.
    18. Paul Krugman, 1992. "Geography and Trade," MIT Press Books, The MIT Press, edition 1, volume 1, number 0262610868, December.
    19. Steven M. Fazzari & R. Glenn Hubbard & Bruce C. Petersen, 1988. "Financing Constraints and Corporate Investment," Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, Economic Studies Program, The Brookings Institution, vol. 19(1), pages 141-206.
    20. Rajan, Raghuram G & Zingales, Luigi, 1995. "What Do We Know about Capital Structure? Some Evidence from International Data," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 50(5), pages 1421-1460, December.
    21. Romer, Paul M, 1990. "Endogenous Technological Change," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 98(5), pages 71-102, October.
    22. Bertrand, Jérémie & Delanghe, Marieke & Klein, Paul-Olivier, 2023. "Does relationship lending help firms to ask for credit? European cross-country evidence," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    23. Cenni, Stefano & Monferrà, Stefano & Salotti, Valentina & Sangiorgi, Marco & Torluccio, Giuseppe, 2015. "Credit rationing and relationship lending. Does firm size matter?," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 249-265.
    24. Charles J. Hadlock & Joshua R. Pierce, 2010. "New Evidence on Measuring Financial Constraints: Moving Beyond the KZ Index," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 23(5), pages 1909-1940.
    25. Sauro Mocetti & Marcello Pagnini & Enrico Sette, 2017. "Information Technology and Banking Organization," Journal of Financial Services Research, Springer;Western Finance Association, vol. 51(3), pages 313-338, June.
    26. Wang, Xinyue & Wang, Qing, 2021. "Research on the impact of green finance on the upgrading of China's regional industrial structure from the perspective of sustainable development," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    27. Adair Morse, 2015. "Peer-to-Peer Crowdfunding: Information and the Potential for Disruption in Consumer Lending," Annual Review of Financial Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 7(1), pages 463-482, December.
    28. Stijn Claessens & Neeltje Van Horen, 2014. "Foreign Banks: Trends and Impact," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 46(s1), pages 295-326, February.
    29. Angori, Gabriele & Aristei, David & Gallo, Manuela, 2020. "Banking relationships, firm-size heterogeneity and access to credit: Evidence from European firms," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 33(C).
    30. Persson, Torsten & Tabellini, Guido, 1994. "Does centralization increase the size of government?," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 38(3-4), pages 765-773, April.
    31. Bartoli, Francesca & Ferri, Giovanni & Murro, Pierluigi & Rotondi, Zeno, 2013. "SME financing and the choice of lending technology in Italy: Complementarity or substitutability?," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 37(12), pages 5476-5485.
    32. Berger, Allen N. & Black, Lamont K., 2011. "Bank size, lending technologies, and small business finance," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 35(3), pages 724-735, March.
    33. Wen, Huiyu & Fang, Jincheng & Gao, Haoyu, 2023. "How FinTech improves financial reporting quality? Evidence from earnings management," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    34. Lai, Xiaobing & Yue, Shujing & Guo, Chong & Zhang, Xinhe, 2023. "Does FinTech reduce corporate excess leverage? Evidence from China," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 281-299.
    35. Ahamed, M. Mostak & Ho, Shirley J. & Mallick, Sushanta K. & Matousek, Roman, 2021. "Inclusive banking, financial regulation and bank performance: Cross-country evidence," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 124(C).
    36. Zhang, Xiaoyan & Li, Jinbao & Xiang, Dong & Worthington, Andrew C., 2023. "Digitalization, financial inclusion, and small and medium-sized enterprise financing: Evidence from China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    37. Giorgio Gobbi & Enrico Sette, 2014. "Do Firms Benefit from Concentrating their Borrowing? Evidence from the Great Recession," Review of Finance, European Finance Association, vol. 18(2), pages 527-560.
    38. Masahiko Aoki, 2001. "Toward a Comparative Institutional Analysis," MIT Press Books, The MIT Press, edition 1, volume 1, number 0262011875, December.
    39. Jiang, Fuxiu & Kim, Kenneth A. & Nofsinger, John R. & Zhu, Bing, 2015. "Product market competition and corporate investment: Evidence from China," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 196-210.
    40. repec:hal:journl:hal-04278538 is not listed on IDEAS
    41. Li, Chengming & Wang, Yilin & Zhou, Zhihan & Wang, Zeyu & Mardani, Abbas, 2023. "Digital finance and enterprise financing constraints: Structural characteristics and mechanism identification," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    42. Thorsten Beck & Asli Demirgüç-Kunt & Ross Levine, 2007. "Finance, inequality and the poor," Journal of Economic Growth, Springer, vol. 12(1), pages 27-49, March.
    43. DeYoung, Robert & Torna, Gökhan, 2013. "Nontraditional banking activities and bank failures during the financial crisis," Journal of Financial Intermediation, Elsevier, vol. 22(3), pages 397-421.
    44. Jeremy C. Stein, 2002. "Information Production and Capital Allocation: Decentralized versus Hierarchical Firms," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 57(5), pages 1891-1921, October.
    45. Tobias Berg & Valentin Burg & Ana Gombović & Manju Puri, 2020. "On the Rise of FinTechs: Credit Scoring Using Digital Footprints," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 33(7), pages 2845-2897.
    46. Liu, Yang & Luan, Lin & Wu, Weilong & Zhang, Zhiqiang & Hsu, Yen, 2021. "Can digital financial inclusion promote China's economic growth?," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    47. Yang, Xingquan & Han, Liang & Li, Wanli & Yin, Xingqiang & Tian, Lin, 2017. "Monetary policy, cash holding and corporate investment: Evidence from China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 110-122.
    48. John Sedunov, 2017. "Does Bank Technology Affect Small Business Lending Decisions?," Journal of Financial Research, Southern Finance Association;Southwestern Finance Association, vol. 40(1), pages 5-32, March.
    49. Christopher S. Armstrong & Alan D. Jagolinzer & David F. Larcker, 2010. "Chief Executive Officer Equity Incentives and Accounting Irregularities," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(2), pages 225-271, May.
    50. Zhao, Jinsong & Li, Xinghao & Yu, Chin-Hsien & Chen, Shi & Lee, Chi-Chuan, 2022. "Riding the FinTech innovation wave: FinTech, patents and bank performance," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 122(C).
    51. Bodlaj, Mateja & Kadic-Maglajlic, Selma & Vida, Irena, 2020. "Disentangling the impact of different innovation types, financial constraints and geographic diversification on SMEs' export growth," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 466-475.
    52. James J. Heckman, 2000. "Causal Parameters and Policy Analysis in Economics: A Twentieth Century Retrospective," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 115(1), pages 45-97.
    53. Huang, Shuo, 2022. "Does FinTech improve the investment efficiency of enterprises? Evidence from China’s small and medium-sized enterprises," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 571-586.
    54. Firth, Michael & Malatesta, Paul H. & Xin, Qingquan & Xu, Liping, 2012. "Corporate investment, government control, and financing channels: Evidence from China's Listed Companies," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 18(3), pages 433-450.
    55. Mingfeng Lin & Nagpurnanand R. Prabhala & Siva Viswanathan, 2013. "Judging Borrowers by the Company They Keep: Friendship Networks and Information Asymmetry in Online Peer-to-Peer Lending," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 59(1), pages 17-35, August.
    56. Joao F. Gomes, 2001. "Financing Investment," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 91(5), pages 1263-1285, December.
    57. Petersen, Mitchell A & Rajan, Raghuram G, 1994. "The Benefits of Lending Relationships: Evidence from Small Business Data," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 49(1), pages 3-37, March.
    58. Jérémie Bertrand & Marieke Delanghe & Paul-Olivier Klein, 2023. "Does relationship lending help firms to ask for credit? European cross-country evidence," Post-Print hal-04381570, HAL.
    59. Adair Morse, 2015. "Peer-to-Peer Crowdfunding: Information and the Potential for Disruption in Consumer Lending," NBER Working Papers 20899, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    60. Jiang, Kangqi & Chen, Zhongfei & Rughoo, Aarti & Zhou, Mengling, 2022. "Internet finance and corporate investment: Evidence from China," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Hua Liu & Juncheng Wang & Mengna Liu, 2024. "Can digital finance curb corporate ESG decoupling? Evidence from Shanghai and Shenzhen A-shares listed companies," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-15, December.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Lu, Yao & Zhan, Shuwei & Zhan, Minghua, 2024. "Has FinTech changed the sensitivity of corporate investment to interest rates?—Evidence from China," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    2. José María Liberti & Mitchell A. Petersen, 2018. "Information: Hard and Soft," NBER Working Papers 25075, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    3. Ferri, Giovanni & Murro, Pierluigi, 2015. "Do firm–bank ‘odd couples’ exacerbate credit rationing?," Journal of Financial Intermediation, Elsevier, vol. 24(2), pages 231-251.
    4. Ludovico Maria Cocco & Elisa Cavezzali & Ugo Rigoni & Giorgia Simion, 2024. "How does soft information on the causes of default affect debt renegotiation? The Italian evidence," Annals of Finance, Springer, vol. 20(1), pages 45-89, March.
    5. Stefano Filomeni & Michele Modina & Elena Tabacco, 2023. "Trade credit and firm investments: empirical evidence from Italian cooperative banks," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 60(3), pages 1099-1141, April.
    6. Kano, Masaji & Uchida, Hirofumi & Udell, Gregory F. & Watanabe, Wako, 2011. "Information verifiability, bank organization, bank competition and bank-borrower relationships," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 35(4), pages 935-954, April.
    7. Jagtiani, Julapa & Lemieux, Catharine, 2018. "Do fintech lenders penetrate areas that are underserved by traditional banks?," Journal of Economics and Business, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 43-54.
    8. Martinsson, Gustav, 2009. "Finance and R&D Investments - is there a debt overhang effect on R&D investments?," Working Paper Series in Economics and Institutions of Innovation 174, Royal Institute of Technology, CESIS - Centre of Excellence for Science and Innovation Studies.
    9. Cenni, Stefano & Monferrà, Stefano & Salotti, Valentina & Sangiorgi, Marco & Torluccio, Giuseppe, 2015. "Credit rationing and relationship lending. Does firm size matter?," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 249-265.
    10. Barra, Cristian & Papaccio, Anna & Ruggiero, Nazzareno, 2024. "Are cooperative and commercial banks equally effective in reducing the shadow economy? International evidence," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    11. José María Liberti & Mitchell A Petersen, 2019. "Information: Hard and Soft," The Review of Corporate Finance Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 8(1), pages 1-41.
    12. Allen N. Berger & Christa H. S. Bouwman & Lars Norden & Raluca A. Roman & Gregory F. Udell & Teng Wang, 2024. "Piercing through Opacity: Relationships and Credit Card Lending to Consumers and Small Businesses during Normal Times and the COVID-19 Crisis," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 132(2), pages 484-551.
    13. Angori, Gabriele & Aristei, David & Gallo, Manuela, 2020. "Banking relationships, firm-size heterogeneity and access to credit: Evidence from European firms," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 33(C).
    14. Berger, Allen N. & Goulding, William & Rice, Tara, 2014. "Do small businesses still prefer community banks?," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 264-278.
    15. Bertrand, Jérémie & Klein, Paul-Olivier, 2021. "Creditor information registries and relationship lending," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 65(C).
    16. Nemoto, Tadanobu & Ogura, Yoshiaki & Watanabe, Wako, 2016. "Inside bank premiums as liquidity insurance," Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 61-76.
    17. Song Zhang & Liang Han & Konstantinos Kallias & Antonios Kallias, 2021. "The value of in-person banking: evidence from U.S. small businesses," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 57(4), pages 1393-1435, November.
    18. Bertrand, Jérémie & Murro, Pierluigi, 2022. "Firm–bank “odd couples” and trade credit: Evidence from Italian small- and medium-sized enterprises," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    19. Fan, Chenguang & Bae, Seongho & Liu, Yu, 2024. "Can FinTech transform corporate liquidity? Evidence from China," Innovation and Green Development, Elsevier, vol. 3(2).
    20. Hussain, Inayat & Durand, Robert B. & Harris, Mark N., 2021. "Relationship lending: A source of support or a means of exploitation?," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 48(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Fintech; Financing constraints; Standardized information; Non-standardized information;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E2 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Consumption, Saving, Production, Employment, and Investment
    • E4 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates
    • G1 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:ecmode:v:137:y:2024:i:c:s0264999324001330. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/inca/30411 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.