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Banking sector competition and firms’ financial constraints: Firm-Level evidence from developing economies

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  • Hussain Khan, Habib
  • Kutan, Ali M.

Abstract

We explore the link between bank competition and financing constraints of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for a sample of 48 developing economies. We incorporate several firm-specific characteristics such as size, age, tangibility, profitability, growth potential, innovativeness, industry, internationalization, and ownership structure. In addition, we con-sider the role of financial development, credit information availability, credit cycle, business cycle, and macroprudential policies. We calculate the credit-constrained status of SMEs using information from the World Bank’s Enterprise Survey (WBES). The findings suggest that the likelihood of a business being credit-constrained is smaller in a competitive banking environment. We get consistent results when employing various indicators of credit constraints and banking competition. The availability of credit information reduces the information asymmetry and lowers the discouraging role of banking market power. Furthermore, banking sector development supports the competition in decreasing SMEs’ financing obstacles. In addition, economies with more financial freedom, effective enforcement of legal rights, and institutional quality support businesses in gaining more access to external financing. Policy implications of the findings are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Hussain Khan, Habib & Kutan, Ali M., 2023. "Banking sector competition and firms’ financial constraints: Firm-Level evidence from developing economies," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:intfin:v:88:y:2023:i:c:s1042443123001166
    DOI: 10.1016/j.intfin.2023.101848
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