Using microdata for Japan, we examine whether and how financial constraints discourage individuals from starting a business. As proxies for financial constraints, we use prefectural variations in the share of firms using physical collateral and personal guarantees. We find that individuals are...

Using microdata for Japan, we examine whether and how financial constraints discourage individuals from starting a business. As proxies for financial constraints, we use prefectural variations in the share of firms using physical collateral and personal guarantees. We find that individuals are...

This paper examines how collateral and personal guarantees affect firms’ ex-post performance employing a propensity score matching estimation approach. Based on a unique firm-level panel data set of more than 500 small-and-medium-sized borrower firms in Japan, we find that borrowers with high...

This paper examines the effectiveness of Japans Emergency Credit Guarantee (ECG) program set up during the financial turmoil following the failure of Lehman Brothers, in increasing credit availability and improving the ex-post performance of small businesses. In particular, using a unique...