IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/riibaf/v69y2024ics0275531924000345.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Sustainability and bank credit access: New evidence from Italian SMEs

Author

Listed:
  • D’Apolito, Elisabetta
  • Galletta, Simona
  • Iannuzzi, Antonia Patrizia
  • Labini, Stefania Sylos

Abstract

We test whether firm sustainability positively affects access to bank credit. We carry out a panel data analysis of 125 listed Italian SMEs across 14 regions over 2017–2021. A quantitative score comprising 20 items grouped into three areas, disclosure, processes, and governance, is computed to determine the level of implementation of sustainable practices of sampled SMEs. Results show that SMEs with more sustainable orientation have greater access to bank credit and better ability to pay the cost of bank debt. This, in turn, reinforces bank-SME relationships. We contribute to the literature on SMEs, highlighting the relationship between sustainability and the availability of bank loans.

Suggested Citation

  • D’Apolito, Elisabetta & Galletta, Simona & Iannuzzi, Antonia Patrizia & Labini, Stefania Sylos, 2024. "Sustainability and bank credit access: New evidence from Italian SMEs," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:riibaf:v:69:y:2024:i:c:s0275531924000345
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ribaf.2024.102242
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0275531924000345
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.ribaf.2024.102242?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. Silvia Angilella & Sebastiano Mazzù, 2019. "A credit risk model with an automatic override for innovative small and medium-sized enterprises," Journal of the Operational Research Society, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 70(10), pages 1784-1800, October.
    2. Refait-Alexandre, Catherine & Serve, Stéphanie, 2020. "Multiple banking relationships: Do SMEs mistrust their banks?," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    3. Sadok El Ghoul & Omrane Guedhami & Hakkon Kim & Kwangwoo Park, 2018. "Corporate Environmental Responsibility and the Cost of Capital: International Evidence," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 149(2), pages 335-361, May.
    4. Eugene F. Fama, 2002. "Testing Trade-Off and Pecking Order Predictions About Dividends and Debt," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 15(1), pages 1-33, March.
    5. Iva Gregurec & Martina Tomičić Furjan & Katarina Tomičić-Pupek, 2021. "The Impact of COVID-19 on Sustainable Business Models in SMEs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-24, January.
    6. Juanita Álvarez Jaramillo & Jhon Wilder Zartha Sossa & Gina Lía Orozco Mendoza, 2019. "Barriers to sustainability for small and medium enterprises in the framework of sustainable development—Literature review," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(4), pages 512-524, May.
    7. Jensen, Michael C. & Meckling, William H., 1976. "Theory of the firm: Managerial behavior, agency costs and ownership structure," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 3(4), pages 305-360, October.
    8. Berger, Allen N. & Udell, Gregory F., 2006. "A more complete conceptual framework for SME finance," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 30(11), pages 2945-2966, November.
    9. Meslier, Céline & Rehault, Pierre-Nicolas & Sauviat, Alain & Yuan, Dian, 2022. "Benefits of local banking in local economic development: Disparities between micro firms and other SMEs," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    10. Dikau, Simon & Volz, Ulrich, 2021. "Central bank mandates, sustainability objectives and the promotion of green finance," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    11. Lagazio, Corrado & Persico, Luca & Querci, Francesca, 2021. "Public guarantees to SME lending: Do broader eligibility criteria pay off?," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    12. John Goddard & Manouche Tavakoli & John Wilson, 2005. "Determinants of profitability in European manufacturing and services: evidence from a dynamic panel model," Applied Financial Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(18), pages 1269-1282.
    13. Mirza, Nawazish & Afzal, Ayesha & Umar, Muhammad & Skare, Marinko, 2023. "The impact of green lending on banking performance: Evidence from SME credit portfolios in the BRIC," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 843-850.
    14. Bert Scholtens, 2009. "Corporate Social Responsibility in the International Banking Industry," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 86(2), pages 159-175, May.
    15. Nirosha Hewa Wellalage & Vijay Kumar, 2021. "Environmental performance and bank lending: Evidence from unlisted firms," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(7), pages 3309-3329, November.
    16. Alexander D.F. Lahmann & Wiebke Stranz & Vivek K. Velamuri, 2017. "Value creation in SME private equity buy-outs," Qualitative Research in Financial Markets, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 9(1), pages 2-33, February.
    17. Francisco Sogorb-Mira, 2005. "How SME Uniqueness Affects Capital Structure: Evidence From A 1994–1998 Spanish Data Panel," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 25(5), pages 447-457, December.
    18. Viral V. Acharya & Oliver F. Gottschalg & Moritz Hahn & Conor Kehoe, 2013. "Corporate Governance and Value Creation: Evidence from Private Equity," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 26(2), pages 368-402.
    19. Olaf Weber, 2005. "Sustainability benchmarking of European banks and financial service organizations," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 12(2), pages 73-87, June.
    20. Diana Bonfim & Paula Antão, 2012. "The dynamics of capital structure decisions," Working Papers w201206, Banco de Portugal, Economics and Research Department.
    21. Michaelas, Nicos & Chittenden, Francis & Poutziouris, Panikkos, 1999. "Financial Policy and Capital Structure Choice in U.K. SMEs: Empirical Evidence from Company Panel Data," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 12(2), pages 113-130, March.
    22. Dorothée Baumann-Pauly & Christopher Wickert & Laura Spence & Andreas Scherer, 2013. "Organizing Corporate Social Responsibility in Small and Large Firms: Size Matters," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 115(4), pages 693-705, July.
    23. Zhang, Dengjun & Wellalage, Nirosha Hewa & Fernandez, Viviana, 2022. "Environmental assurance, gender, and access to finance: Evidence from SMEs," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    24. Olaf Weber, 2012. "Environmental Credit Risk Management in Banks and Financial Service Institutions," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 21(4), pages 248-263, May.
    25. Angilella, Silvia & Mazzù, Sebastiano, 2015. "The financing of innovative SMEs: A multicriteria credit rating model," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 244(2), pages 540-554.
    26. Aracil, Elisa & Nájera-Sánchez, Juan-José & Forcadell, Francisco Javier, 2021. "Sustainable banking: A literature review and integrative framework," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 42(C).
    27. Ana Beatriz Lopes de Sousa Jabbour & Charbel Jose Chiappetta Jabbour & Moacir Godinho Filho & David Roubaud, 2018. "Industry 4.0 and the circular economy: a proposed research agenda and original roadmap for sustainable operations," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 270(1), pages 273-286, November.
    28. Valeria Naciti & Fabrizio Cesaroni & Luisa Pulejo, 2022. "Corporate governance and sustainability: a review of the existing literature," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 26(1), pages 55-74, March.
    29. Goss, Allen & Roberts, Gordon S., 2011. "The impact of corporate social responsibility on the cost of bank loans," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 35(7), pages 1794-1810, July.
    30. Nicola Raimo & Alessandra Caragnano & Marianna Zito & Filippo Vitolla & Massimo Mariani, 2021. "Extending the benefits of ESG disclosure: The effect on the cost of debt financing," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(4), pages 1412-1421, July.
    31. Lutfi Abdul Razak & Mansor H. Ibrahim & Adam Ng, 2020. "Which Sustainability Dimensions Affect Credit Risk? Evidence from Corporate and Country-Level Measures," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-22, December.
    32. Francesca Bartolacci & Andrea Caputo & Michela Soverchia, 2020. "Sustainability and financial performance of small and medium sized enterprises: A bibliometric and systematic literature review," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(3), pages 1297-1309, March.
    33. Mateev, Miroslav & Poutziouris, Panikkos & Ivanov, Konstantin, 2013. "On the determinants of SME capital structure in Central and Eastern Europe: A dynamic panel analysis," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 27(1), pages 28-51.
    34. La Rosa, Fabio & Liberatore, Giovanni & Mazzi, Francesco & Terzani, Simone, 2018. "The impact of corporate social performance on the cost of debt and access to debt financing for listed European non-financial firms," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 36(4), pages 519-529.
    35. Najah Attig & Sadok El Ghoul & Omrane Guedhami & Jungwon Suh, 2013. "Corporate Social Responsibility and Credit Ratings," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 117(4), pages 679-694, November.
    36. Michael Dothan, 2006. "Costs Of Financial Distress And Interest Coverage Ratios," Journal of Financial Research, Southern Finance Association;Southwestern Finance Association, vol. 29(2), pages 147-162, June.
    37. Belas, Jaroslav & Škare, Marinko & Gavurova, Beata & Dvorsky, Jan & Kotaskova, Anna, 2022. "The impact of ethical and CSR factors on engineers’ attitudes towards SMEs sustainability," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 589-598.
    38. Veltri, Stefania & Bruni, Maria Elena & Iazzolino, Gianpaolo & Morea, Donato & Baldissarro, Giovanni, 2023. "Do ESG factors improve utilities corporate efficiency and reduce the risk perceived by credit lending institutions? An empirical analysis," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    39. Joseph Bakos & Michele Siu & Adalberto Orengo & Narges Kasiri, 2020. "An analysis of environmental sustainability in small & medium‐sized enterprises: Patterns and trends," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(3), pages 1285-1296, March.
    40. R. El Khoury & N. Nasrallah & B. Alareeni, 2023. "ESG and financial performance of banks in the MENAT region: concavity–convexity patterns," Journal of Sustainable Finance & Investment, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 13(1), pages 406-430, January.
    41. Alam, Ashraful & Du, Anna Min & Rahman, Mahfuzur & Yazdifar, Hassan & Abbasi, Kaleemullah, 2022. "SMEs respond to climate change: Evidence from developing countries," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    42. Pi, Lynn & Timme, Stephen G., 1993. "Corporate control and bank efficiency," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 17(2-3), pages 515-530, April.
    43. Lutz Preuss & Jack Perschke, 2010. "Slipstreaming the Larger Boats: Social Responsibility in Medium-Sized Businesses," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 92(4), pages 531-551, April.
    44. Beck, Thorsten & Demirgüç-Kunt, Asli & Merrouche, Ouarda, 2013. "Islamic vs. conventional banking: Business model, efficiency and stability," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 37(2), pages 433-447.
    45. Avinash Ghalke & Satish Kumar & S.V.D. Nageswara Rao, 2022. "SME financing through public equity: review of the Indian SME exchanges," Indian Growth and Development Review, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 15(1), pages 85-97, February.
    46. Reghezza, Alessio & Altunbas, Yener & Marques-Ibanez, David & Rodriguez d’Acri, Costanza & Spaggiari, Martina, 2022. "Do banks fuel climate change?," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).
    47. Joel F Houston & Hongyu Shan, 2022. "Corporate ESG Profiles and Banking Relationships," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 35(7), pages 3373-3417.
    48. Jean-Marie Courrent & Sonia Chassé & Waleed Omri, 2018. "Do Entrepreneurial SMEs Perform Better Because They are More Responsible?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 153(2), pages 317-336, December.
    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. Rodríguez-Rebés, Laura & Ibar-Alonso, Raquel & Gómez, Luis Manuel Ruíz & Navío-Marco, Julio, 2024. "The use and drivers of organisational eco-innovation in European SMEs," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 70(PA).
    2. Aristei, David & Gallo, Manuela & Vannoni, Valeria, 2024. "Preferences for ethical intermediaries and sustainable investment decisions in micro-firms: The role of financial literacy and digital financial capability," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).

    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. Thi Hong Hoang & Călin Gurău & Amine Lahiani & Thuy-Luu Seran, 2018. "Do crises impact capital structure? A study of French micro-enterprises," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 50(1), pages 181-199, January.
    2. Martinez Cillero, Maria & Lawless, Martina & O'Toole, Conor, 2019. "The determinants of SME capital structure across the lifecycle," Papers WP614, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
    3. Jannik Gerwanski, 2020. "Does it pay off? Integrated reporting and cost of debt: European evidence," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(5), pages 2299-2319, September.
    4. Fiordelisi, Franco & Ricci, Ornella & Santilli, Gianluca, 2023. "Environmental engagement and stock price crash risk: Evidence from the European banking industry," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    5. Degryse, H.A. & de Goeij, P. C. & Kappert, P., 2009. "The Impact of Firm and Industry Characteristics on Small Firms' Capital Structure : Evidence from Dutch Panel Data," Discussion Paper 2009-21, Tilburg University, Center for Economic Research.
    6. Mateev, Miroslav & Poutziouris, Panikkos & Ivanov, Konstantin, 2013. "On the determinants of SME capital structure in Central and Eastern Europe: A dynamic panel analysis," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 27(1), pages 28-51.
    7. Huang, Kuo-Jui & Bui, Dien Giau & Hsu, Yuan-Teng & Lin, Chih-Yung, 2024. "The ESG washing in banks: Evidence from the syndicated loan market," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    8. Thi van Hoang & Călin Gurău & Amine Lahiani & Thuy-Luu Seran, 2017. "Do crises impact capital structure? A study of French micro-enterprises," Post-Print hal-03608784, HAL.
    9. Mirza, Nawazish & Afzal, Ayesha & Umar, Muhammad & Skare, Marinko, 2023. "The impact of green lending on banking performance: Evidence from SME credit portfolios in the BRIC," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 843-850.
    10. Alessandra Amendola & Marinella Boccia & Gianluca Mele & Luca Sensini, 2020. "Tax Policy and Firms' Financial Choices: Empirical Evidence from the Dominican Republic," MIC 2020: The 20th Management International Conference,, University of Primorska Press.
    11. Iván Arribas & Emili Tortosa-Ausina & TingTing Zhu, 2021. "Optimal capital structure, model uncertainty, and European SMEs," Working Papers 2021/11, Economics Department, Universitat Jaume I, Castellón (Spain).
    12. James Agyei & Shaorong Sun & Eugene Abrokwah, 2020. "Trade-Off Theory Versus Pecking Order Theory: Ghanaian Evidence," SAGE Open, , vol. 10(3), pages 21582440209, July.
    13. Francesco Gangi & Antonio Meles & Eugenio D'Angelo & Lucia Michela Daniele, 2019. "Sustainable development and corporate governance in the financial system: Are environmentally friendly banks less risky?," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(3), pages 529-547, May.
    14. Ballester, Laura & González-Urteaga, Ana & Shen, Long, 2024. "Green bond issuance and credit risk: International evidence," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    15. Li, WeiWei & Padmanabhan, Prasad & Huang, Chia-Hsing, 2024. "ESG and debt structure: Is the nature of this relationship nonlinear?," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    16. Jaspreet Kaur & Madhu Vij & Ajay Kumar Chauhan, 2023. "Signals influencing corporate credit ratings—a systematic literature review," DECISION: Official Journal of the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, Springer;Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, vol. 50(1), pages 91-114, March.
    17. David K. Chalmers & Marco Della Porta & Luca Sensini, 2020. "Export Intensity and Leverage: An Empirical Analysis of Spanish SMEs," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 10(5), pages 382-386.
    18. Óscar Carvallo Valencia & Jonathan Barboza Pineda & Ignacio Garrón Vedia, 2018. "Corporate Firms’ Financial Conditions and Investment in Latin America: Determinants and Measurement," Monetaria, Centro de Estudios Monetarios Latinoamericanos, CEMLA, vol. 0(1), pages 39-105, january-j.
    19. Apostolos Dasilas & Nicolas Papasyriopoulos, 2015. "Corporate governance, credit ratings and the capital structure of Greek SME and large listed firms," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 45(1), pages 215-244, June.
    20. Khayria Amarna & Raquel Garde Sánchez & Maria Victoria López‐Pérez & Mahmoud Marzouk, 2024. "The effect of environmental, social, and governance disclosure and real earning management on the cost of financing," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(4), pages 3181-3193, July.

    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:riibaf:v:69:y:2024:i:c:s0275531924000345. 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/ribaf .

    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.