The aim of the paper is to analyse how credit crunch has modified the traditional bank-firm relationship with a particular attention to the Italian situation. Our analysis reinforces the finding that in Italy, the credit available to the real economy is insufficient in terms not only of quantity...

Abstract: Banking competition may enhance or hinder the financing of small and medium enterprises. Using a survey on the financing of such enterprises in China, combined with detailed bank branch information, we investigate how concentration in local banking market affects the availability of...

Knowing that the small and medium size enterprises should be protected so it can make the first steps to eliminate the effects of the crisis, the federal government has turned its attention to supporting SMEs. In this respect it has taken a series of measures to revitalize the role of SMEs, by...