Lending to the real sector of the region’s economy: state, problems, prospects

Abstract

Approaches to the essence and constituent elements of the real economy sector are analyzed, its optimal structure is determined. It is focused on servicing and infrastructural role of banks in relation to the entities of the real sector. The dynamics of the lending to the real sector of the economy and the level of its penetration is analyzed. The paper reveals that the growth of lending in this sector was restored only last year, but the level of penetration continues to decline. The banking sector is analyzed. The paper argues that it has become profitable for the first time since the crisis, but mainly due to reduction of deductions to reserves. The financial situation of enterprises of the real sector of the Ukrainian economy is estimated. After an increase in profitability, it was again observed to have fallen due to the growth of competition and labor costs. Production are found to have increased in the real sector, but the role of loans in its development is insignificant. The emphasis is placed on the leading role of banks in the region for business development. The regional features of lending to the real economy sector in the Lviv region are outlined. The paper determines that in this region the growth of industrial products is much higher than the average in Ukraine, while the share of balances on loans granted is one of the lowest. There are the tendencies towards the decrease of the number of banks in the given region, increase of balances of banks' claims on loans in absolute value, prevalence of long-term loans and foreign currency loans. By the share of received loans the processing industry is in second place, agriculture is in the third place. Low level of the share of unemployed loans, higher than the average in Ukraine indicator of the proportion of loans in capital investment, as well as higher interest rates on loans are the features of regional lending in the Lviv region. The factors limiting the obtaining of loans from the point of view of management entities of the studied region are outlined. Certain NBU branches are dominant in the Lviv region as for lending. The changes in the regulatory environment at the macroeconomic level that are directly related to lending are analyzed. The regulator's policy to revive lending to the real sector should be extremely cautious and systematic, aimed at limiting the concentration of risks, preventing excessive lending growth, increasing the stability of financial infrastructure and reducing the dollarization of the banking sector. Measures to increase lending in the Lviv region are outlined. The involvement of banks in the Lviv educational-industrial hub is proposed.