Drivers and Obstacles to Banking SMEs : The Role of Competition and the Institutional Framework

de la Torre, Augusto ; Martí ; nez Perí ; a, Marí ; a Soledad ; Schmukler, Sergio L.

Washington, DC:World Bank

关键词: ACCESS TO BANK;    ACCESS TO EXTERNAL FINANCE;    ACCESS TO FINANCE;    ACCESS TO FINANCING;    ACCESS TO INFORMATION;   

DOI  :  10.1596/1813-9450-4788
RP-ID  :  WPS4788

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

This paper studies the factors banksperceive as drivers and obstacles to financing small andmedium enterprises (SMEs), focusing on the role ofcompetition and the institutional framework. Using a surveyof banks in Argentina and Chile, the paper shows that,despite alleged differences in the countries'environments regarding rules, regulations, and ease of doingbusiness, SMEs have become a strategic segment for mostbanks in both countries. In particular, banks have begun totarget SMEs due to the significant competition in thecorporate and retail sectors. They perceive the SMEs marketas highly profitable, large, and with good prospects.Moreover, banks are developing coping mechanisms to overcomethe particular institutional obstacles present in eachcountry and to compete for SMEs. Banks' interest inSMEs is not based on government programs, yet policy actionmight help reduce the cost of providing financing,especially long-term lending.