Financial Deepening and Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) Output in Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the relationship between financial deepening (FD) and entrepreneurial growth (EG) in Nigeria for the period of 1986-2021 (36years). This was done in respect to the measures of FD, namely; Ratio of Broad Money Supply to Gross Domestic Product (M2/GDP), Ratio of Private Sector Credit to Gross Domestic Product (PSC/GDP), Ratio of Market Capitalization to Gross Domestic Product (MCAP/GDP) and Ratio of Loans to Small and Medium Scale Enterprises to Gross Domestic Product (LSMSE/GDP) in relation to EG was proxied by Small and Medium Scale Enterprises Output (SMSEO) in Nigeria. The data for the study was sourced from Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Statistical Bulletin and World Bank Development Indicators. Then, the stationary and normality tests was carried out, followed by the descriptive statistics, correlation and multiple regression tool of analysis with the aid of E-VIEW 9.0 statistical package. The results showed that M2/GDP, PSC/GDP, MCAP/GDP and LSMSE/GDP have positive and negative significant effect on SMSEO in Nigeria. Hence, the study indicated that FD had a considerable impact on EG in Nigeria. The report proposed that the CBN compel deposit money Banks (DMBs) to extend greater loan facilities to entrepreneurs (private sector), including young graduates and new entrepreneurs, without collateral to enable them to participate in successful businesses. In addition, venture capital firms should be developed to aid in EG, resulting in the production of value and wealth.