Lending technologies, banking relationships, and firms' access to credit in Italy: the role of firm size

G Angori, D Aristei, M Gallo - Applied Economics, 2019 - Taylor & Francis
G Angori, D Aristei, M Gallo
Applied Economics, 2019Taylor & Francis
This paper analyses the role of lending technologies and banking relationships on firms'
credit access in Italy. Using EFIGE firm-level data, we show that the depth and strength of
firm–bank relationships have heterogeneous effects on credit demand and rationing
probabilities depending on the size of the borrower. Multiple banking relationships alleviate
financial constraints for small firms, while borrowing from a large number of lenders hinders
access to credit for large companies. Small and medium-sized enterprises with a higher …
Abstract
This paper analyses the role of lending technologies and banking relationships on firms’ credit access in Italy. Using EFIGE firm-level data, we show that the depth and strength of firm–bank relationships have heterogeneous effects on credit demand and rationing probabilities depending on the size of the borrower. Multiple banking relationships alleviate financial constraints for small firms, while borrowing from a large number of lenders hinders access to credit for large companies. Small and medium-sized enterprises with a higher share of debt with the main bank have a lower probability of being credit denied, as debt concentration contributes to overcome the opacity problems typical of the SMEs. Long-lasting relationships, by reducing information asymmetries, significantly improve access to credit for small and large firms. Conversely, we find that medium-sized enterprises are more exposed to financing constraints as relationship duration increases, due to possible lock-in effects. Finally, firms maintaining banking relationships based on transactional technologies are more likely to be credit denied, while the use of relationship lending technologies improves credit availability for both small and large enterprises.
Taylor & Francis Online
以上显示的是最相近的搜索结果。 查看全部搜索结果