Title: SME credit rationing: the case of Tunisia

Authors: Mohamed Bouabidi, Mohamed Tahar Rajhi

Addresses: Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences, Sidi Messaoud Hiboun, 5111, Mahdia, Tunisia. ' Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences, Tunis, Tunisia

Abstract: Small and Medium Enterprises, SMEs, generally endure an important rationing degree. Responsibility of this problem is incumbent upon SMEs and financial establishments. Indeed, SMEs are characterised by strong asymmetric information and weak communication with outsiders. Therefore, banks are marked by an increasing risk aversion, and a passive management of the risk undertook. This paper will make the object, firstly, of an exposition of the main means capable to dam up the rationing problem. Secondly, we will put the accent on the financial state of the Tunisian SMEs, their rationing degree, and the means used to reduce it.

Keywords: moral risk; adverse selection; credit rationing; Tunisia; SMEs; small and medium-sized enterprises; risk aversion.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBG.2008.016626

International Journal of Business and Globalisation, 2008 Vol.2 No.2, pp.183 - 197

Published online: 11 Jan 2008 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article