Using unique panel data on German manufacturing firms this paper shows the development of the bank's willingness to lend to businesses during the financial crisis and its effect on firm innovations. Due to differences in business practices commercial banks, credit unions and savings banks in...

Using unique micro-data on German firms, this paper estimates the effect of restrictive bank lending on innovation. In the German three-pillar banking system, comprised of commercial banks, credit unions, and savings banks, firms were differently affected in their ability to raise external debt...