This study investigates the role of financial literacy(FL),perceived access to finance(PAF),information communication technology(ICT)usage,and digitization in alleviating the level of credit constraint that micro,smal...This study investigates the role of financial literacy(FL),perceived access to finance(PAF),information communication technology(ICT)usage,and digitization in alleviating the level of credit constraint that micro,small,and medium enterprises(MSMEs)face in an emerging market.We draw on the economic research theories of human capital,knowledge-based view,and lifecycle hypothesis to explain the relationship between the variables.Using survey data collected from 333 MSME importers in Qatar—a country with heavy reliance on foreign goods—we find strong evidence that FL,PAF,ICT usage,and digitization are key determinants of Qatari MSME access to credit.In particular,PAF and FL are significant and have their expected signs in almost all the Probit regressions.For ICT usage and digitization,although they are key determinants of credit constraints,the findings are more sensitive and dependent on the type of financing and the resulting type of credit constraint.展开更多
基金supported by QNRF under the Grant Number NPRP11C-1229-170007 from the Qatar National Research Fund(a member of Qatar foundation).
文摘This study investigates the role of financial literacy(FL),perceived access to finance(PAF),information communication technology(ICT)usage,and digitization in alleviating the level of credit constraint that micro,small,and medium enterprises(MSMEs)face in an emerging market.We draw on the economic research theories of human capital,knowledge-based view,and lifecycle hypothesis to explain the relationship between the variables.Using survey data collected from 333 MSME importers in Qatar—a country with heavy reliance on foreign goods—we find strong evidence that FL,PAF,ICT usage,and digitization are key determinants of Qatari MSME access to credit.In particular,PAF and FL are significant and have their expected signs in almost all the Probit regressions.For ICT usage and digitization,although they are key determinants of credit constraints,the findings are more sensitive and dependent on the type of financing and the resulting type of credit constraint.
