How Do Demand, Supply, and Institutional Factors Influence SME Financial Inclusion: A Developing Country Perspective

Abstract

Greater access to finance by SMEs in developing countries is one of the most import powerful strategies to reduce poverty and unemployment issues and promote economic growth. The main objective of this study is to construct financial inclusion index for SMEs and identify the determinants of SMEs’ financial inclusion. The data are collected from the primary survey conducted in Sabaragamuwa province using the Stratified Random sampling method to achieve the abovementioned aims. A sample of 139 SMEs is used to analyze the data from a well-structured questionnaire. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Multiple Regression Analysis are applied to construct an index and identifying factors. The study’s findings reveal that the financial inclusion index for SMEs is weighted equally by access and quality of the financial services as the pillars. Further, the financial inclusion of SMEs is mainly determined by demand-side factors (ability to manage economic changes, proffer record keeping, and willingness to expand the business), supply-side factors (collateral requirements and application procedure), institutional factors (ownership type and sector of the firm), and some demographic characteristics of owner-manager of SMEs. The study recommends that the state bankers, commercial bankers, and policymakers should put in place policies that encourage financial service providers to set up their operations close and incorporate innovative approaches to ensure that they adopt technologies and financial services that are more accessible.