This study examines the actual funding behavior of German innovative firms in the pre- and post-crisis period. Specifically, we investigate if and how the funding patterns and financial constraints of German small and medium enterprises (SME) changed during and since the financial crisis. The...

Compared to the U.S., the euro area has been underperforming in the wake of the Great Financial Crisis (GFC). This holds especially true for peripheral euro area economies. Whereas the U.S. is characterised by a financial system dominated by arms’ length (capital-market oriented) interaction...

Many policy actions of the CMU have the objective to enhance access to finance for the so-called backbone of the European economy-the SMEs. The CMU aims at improving the framework conditions for SME financing, at strengthening bank lending-as the most important external financing source for...