Does Digital Transformation Matter for Trade Credit Provision? Evidence from China

This study shows that digital transformation can promote the supply of trade credit in China. The results are robust to different measures of trade credit provision and endogeneity. The impact of digital transformation on the provision of trade credit is more pronounced among firms in regions with lower marketization, non-state-owned enterprises, and firms with better information environment. In addition, this study investigates the potential channels and find that digital transformation increases trade credit provision through improving firms’ financing availability and promoting corporate risk-taking. Overall, results in this study are consistent with of the financial theory of trade credit