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Financing Micro Firms in Europe: An Empirical Analysis

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  • Masiak, Christian
  • Block, Joern H.
  • Moritz, Alexandra
  • Lang, Frank
  • Kraemer-Eis, Helmut

Abstract

The vast majority of firms in Europe are micro firms. Still, we know little about their financing patterns. Our paper aims to close this gap. Based on a large European firm-level data set, we find that micro firms differ in their financing patterns from small and medium-sized companies. Our empirical results show that micro firms are more likely to use internal financing instruments, whereas they are less likely to use state subsidies, trade credit or asset-based financing instruments. Furthermore, micro firms differ from medium-sized firms by using more short-term debt (credit card overdrafts, credit lines and bank overdrafts). The implications of these findings for micro firms and policy makers are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Masiak, Christian & Block, Joern H. & Moritz, Alexandra & Lang, Frank & Kraemer-Eis, Helmut, 2017. "Financing Micro Firms in Europe: An Empirical Analysis," EIF Working Paper Series 2017/44, European Investment Fund (EIF).
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:eifwps:201744
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    Cited by:

    1. 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).
    2. Julien Salin & Nadine Levratto, 2020. "Are business angel-backed companies truly different? a comparative analysis of the financial structure," EconomiX Working Papers 2020-5, University of Paris Nanterre, EconomiX.
    3. Román-Aso, Juan A. & Coca Villalba, Fernando & Mastral Franks, Vanessa & Bosch Frigola, Irene, 2021. "Using Principal Component Analysis to create an index of financial conditions in Spain. Differences by firm size and industry," EconStor Preprints 234038, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    4. Kraemer-Eis, Helmut & Lang, Frank & Torfs, Wouter & Gvetadze, Salome, 2017. "European Small Business Finance Outlook: June 2017," EIF Working Paper Series 2017/43, European Investment Fund (EIF).
    5. Ferrando, Annalisa & Lekpek, Senad, 2018. "Access to finance and innovative activity of EU firms: A cluster analysis," EIB Working Papers 2018/02, European Investment Bank (EIB).
    6. Lisana B. Martinez & M. Belén Guercio & Aurelio F. Bariviera, 2022. "A meta‐analysis of SMEs literature based on the survey on access to finance of enterprises of the European central bank," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 27(2), pages 1870-1885, April.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Micro firms; SMEs; enterprise financing in Europe; financing patterns;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C30 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - General
    • G20 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - General
    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General

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