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Do Credit Constraints Affect SME Investment and Employment?

Author

Listed:
  • Petra Gerlach-Kristen

    (Swiss National Bank, Zurich, Switzerland)

  • Brian O'Connell

    (Indecon International Economic Consultants, Dublin)

  • Conor O'Toole

    (Central Bank of Ireland)

Abstract

This paper explores the potential presence of credit constraints confronting Irish SMEs and investigates the impact of these constraints on firms’ employment and investment. Using new survey data collected by the Department of Finance, we define firms as credit rationed or discouraged borrowers and link these constraints to employment and the propensity to invest. We find a negative and significant effect of SME credit constraints on employment for firms that are discouraged from applying for credit. We also find a negative effect of constraints on the probability of an SME investing. This effect is driven by firms who are credit rationed when seeking capacity expansion loans.

Suggested Citation

  • Petra Gerlach-Kristen & Brian O'Connell & Conor O'Toole, 2015. "Do Credit Constraints Affect SME Investment and Employment?," The Economic and Social Review, Economic and Social Studies, vol. 46(1), pages 51-86.
    • Handle: RePEc:eso:journl:v:46:y:2015:i:1:p:51-86
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Cornille, David & Rycx, François & Tojerow, Ilan, 2019. "Heterogeneous effects of credit constraints on SMEs’ employment: Evidence from the European sovereign debt crisis," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 1-13.
    2. Cornille, David & Rycx, François & Tojerow, Ilan, 2018. "Heterogeneous Effects of Credit Constraints on SMEs' Employment: Evidence from the Great Recession," IZA Discussion Papers 11257, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Christina Kinghan & Carol Newman & Conor M. O'Toole, 2018. "Capital allocation, credit access, and firm growth in Vietnam," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2018-67, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    4. Carol Newman & Conor O’Toole & Christina Kinghan, 2018. "Capital allocation, credit access, and firm growth in Vietnam," WIDER Working Paper Series 67, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    5. Cantillon, Leona & Gargan, Eric & Kren, Janez & Lawless, Martina & O'Toole, Conor, 2022. "Recent trends in SME investment in Ireland: exploring the pandemic and barriers to growth," Research Series, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), number SUSTAT113.
    6. Kren, Janez & Lawless, Martina & O'Toole, Conor, 2021. "Cost of doing business during COVID-19: SME investment in public health compliance," Papers WP701, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
    7. Lawless, Martina & Martinez-Cillero, Maria & O'Toole, Conor, 2021. "SME investment determinants and financing constraints: A stochastic frontier approach," Papers WP699, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
    8. Marie Finnegan & Supriya Kapoor, 2023. "ECB unconventional monetary policy and SME access to finance," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 61(3), pages 1253-1288, October.
    9. Terence Achiangea Aminkeng & Song Huaming & Ngoe Bosambe Mukete & Gershom Endelani Mwalupaso, 2024. "Impact of Credit Constraints on Financial Performance of Small and Medium Size Enterprises," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 36(4), pages 868-896, August.
    10. Carroll, James & Mooney, Paul & O'Toole, Conor, 2016. "Irish SME Investment in Economic Recovery," Quarterly Bulletin Articles, Central Bank of Ireland, pages 77-91, March.
    11. O’Toole, Conor & Hennessy, Thia, 2015. "Do decoupled payments affect investment financing constraints? Evidence from Irish agriculture," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 67-75.
    12. Conor M. O'Toole & Martina Lawless & Derek Lambert, 2015. "Non-Bank Financing in Ireland: A Comparative Perspective," The Economic and Social Review, Economic and Social Studies, vol. 46(1), pages 133-161.
    13. McQuinn, Kieran & O’Toole, Conor & Economides, Philip, 2018. "Quarterly Economic Commentary, Autumn 2018," Forecasting Report, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), number QEC.
    14. David Cornille & François Rycx & Ilan Tojerow, 2017. "The employment consequences of SMEs’ credit constraints in the wake of the great recession," Working Paper Research 333, National Bank of Belgium.
    15. Wellalage, Nirosha Hewa & Locke, Stuart, 2020. "Formal credit and innovation: Is there a uniform relationship across types of innovation?," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 1-15.
    16. Lawless, Martina & O’Toole, Conor & Slaymaker, Rachel, 2018. "Estimating an SME investment gap and the contribution of financing frictions," Papers WP589, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
    17. Martinez-Cillero, Maria & Lawless, Martina & O'Toole, Conor, 2023. "Analysing SME investment, financing constraints and its determinants. A stochastic frontier approach," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 578-588.
    18. Lawless, Martina & O’Connell, Brian & O’Toole, Conor, 2015. "SME recovery following a financial crisis: Does debt overhang matter?," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 19(C), pages 45-59.

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