In the wake of the crisis, the capacity of many banks to lend to relatively high-risk sectors such as SMEs and young, innovative firms is seriously impaired by capital constraints and a strong deterioration in the quality of the assets on their balance sheets. Looking forward, it is vital that...

This study was undertaken by the EIB Economics Department. The study assesses the financing needs of the SMEs in the Neighbourhood countries that have signed Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area agreements with the EU. In particular the study addresses the needs of the intermediaries that...

Using panel data on Egyptian firms to explore cyclical and structural determinants of access to finance, we find that firms with more educated and more experienced managers are more likely to open a checking account, often a prerequisite for obtaining credit. Firms that started operating in the...