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Perceived credit constraints in the European Union

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  • Canton, E.J.F.
  • Grilo, I.
  • Monteagudo, J.
  • van der Zwan, P.W.

Abstract

The promotion and support of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) forms an essential ingredient of the policies designed to help improve Europe’s economic performance. A key issue is whether SMEs face difficulty obtaining bank loans. Using pre-crisis survey data from 2005 and 2006 for nearly 3,500 SMEs (firms with fewer than 250 employees) in the European Union (EU), we investigate the determinants of perceived bank loan accessibility at the firm level and at the country level. Based on hierarchical (multi-level) binomial logit regressions, our findings show that the youngest and smallest SMEs have the worst perceptions regarding access to bank loans. The SMEs in nations with concentrated banking sectors are more positive about loan accessibility. In addition, a high fraction of foreign-owned banks is associated with improved perceptions regarding loan accessibility in the EU 15 but not in the EU 10.

Suggested Citation

  • Canton, E.J.F. & Grilo, I. & Monteagudo, J. & van der Zwan, P.W., 2012. "Perceived credit constraints in the European Union," ERIM Report Series Research in Management ERS-2010-001-ORG, Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM), ERIM is the joint research institute of the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University and the Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) at Erasmus University Rotterdam.
    • Handle: RePEc:ems:eureri:17699
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    1. Driver, Ciaran & Muñoz-Bugarin, Jair, 2019. "Financial constraints on investment: Effects of firm size and the financial crisis," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 441-457.
    2. repec:wly:camsys:v:10:y:2014:i:1:p:1-46:b is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Lee, Neil & Sameen, Hiba & Cowling, Marc, 2015. "Access to finance for innovative SMEs since the financial crisis," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(2), pages 370-380.
    4. Gerlach, Petra & O'Connell, Brian & O'Toole, Conor, 2013. "SME Credit Constraints and Macroeconomic Effects," Papers WP467, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
    5. Alexandra Moritz & Joern H. Block & Andreas Heinz, 2016. "Financing patterns of European SMEs -- an empirical taxonomy," Venture Capital, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(2), pages 115-148, April.
    6. Demary, Markus & Hornik, Joanna & Watfe, Gibran, 2016. "SME financing in the EU: Moving beyond one-size-fits-all," IW-Reports 11/2016, Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft (IW) / German Economic Institute.
    7. Alessandro Barbera & Áron Gereben & Marcin Wolski, 2022. "Estimating conditional treatment effects of EIB lending to SMEs in Europe," BIS Working Papers 1006, Bank for International Settlements.
    8. Rocca Espinoza, Salustiano Eduardo & Duréndez Gómez-Guillamón, Antonio, 2017. "Factores determinantes que explican el acceso a la financiación bancaria: un estudio empírico en empresas peruanas," Small Business International Review, Asociación Española de Contabilidad y Administración de Empresas - AECA, vol. 1(1), pages 11-34, July.
    9. 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.
    10. Abildgren, Kim & Drejer, Peter Askjær & Kuchler, Andreas, 2013. "Banks’ loan rejection rates and the creditworthiness of the banks’ corporate customers," Nationaløkonomisk tidsskrift, Nationaløkonomisk Forening, vol. 2013(2), pages 207-224.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    SMEs; bank loans; concentration index; credit constraints; money supply; multi-level;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E44 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Financial Markets and the Macroeconomy
    • E51 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Money Supply; Credit; Money Multipliers
    • G15 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - International Financial Markets
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages

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