Economic theory posits that financial development eases firm level financing constraints by mitigating information asymmetry and contracting imperfections. This paper empirically tests for this notion by using firm level data from selected African countries. The sampled firms show positive and significant investment cash flow sensitivity coefficients indicating they are financially constrained. Financial development is found to have a significant and negative effect on the estimated cash flow sensitivity coefficients indicating it reduces firm financial constraints. The result further shows that such positive role of financial development is attributed to financial intermediary development and not to stock market development. A unique result to the African reality is that even firms in countries with high level of financial development are financially constrained. This implies the financial development in Africa is too weak and more policy attention is needed in this regard.
Financial Development and Financing Constraints: International Evidence from the Structural Investment Model
