Using a dataset including more than 6,000 Italian small firms over the period 2010-2012, we find an higher credit growth rate for companies that employ Ict in a more widespread and sophisticated way. This may be related to the improvement of the transparency of small businesses connected with...

Commercial banking model confirms its economic reliability, in terms of contribution to systemic stability, and ensures an healthy flow of loans and savings. Also for small and medium enterprises, innovation and internationalization trends are closely associated with banks regional network

Free riding leads to excess risk production. This problem may be solved, at least partially, either by financial regulation or by taxation. From a normative viewpoint, taxation is superior in many respects. However, reality shows that financial regulation is adopted more frequently. If the...