Has previous loan rejection scarred firms from applying for loans during Covid-19?

The concept of the ‘discouraged’ borrower is well documented. In this paper, we consider whether smaller firms in the UK who have been previously rejected for bank loans have been scarred by the experience so badly that even in the presence of two exceptionally generous Covid-19 loan guarantee schemes, they still refuse to make an application. Furthermore, we also consider what happens when they do. As banks have either zero or minimal loss exposure, do they still maintain their normal strict lending protocols or do they relax their standards to fulfil the governments’ objective of supporting struggling businesses through the crisis? Our findings show that 72% of previously rejected borrowers are reluctant to request loans. We find some evidence that previously scarred firms faced such severe liquidity problems that they relaxed their distrust of banks during the Covid-19 crisis. However, their share of the government-guaranteed loan portfolio was slightly lower suggesting that banks were treating each new loan application on its merits. Plain English Summary The Covid-19 crisis hit smaller businesses so hard that even previously rejected borrowers were forced to apply for loans to keep them afloat. Previous loan rejections have not discouraged small businesses in the UK in applying for Covid-19 government-guaranteed loans. Banks have used the loan guarantee schemes to continue to supply loans to small business during the pandemic. Our paper analyses the important phenomenon of borrower scarring and discouragement, when potential debtors are self-excluded from the lending market because they have previous rejections or expect a negative bank response. We consider around 45,000 UK small businesses from 2018 to 2020. On the demand side, we find that the economic shock for small businesses during the pandemic dissipates the scarring effect. Specifically, we find that micro and small businesses had the highest loan demand in the first two quarters of the pandemic (from March 2020). On the supply side, we show that scarred borrowers were not routed onto Covid-19 government-guaranteed loan schemes. These findings show the importance of government-backed lending schemes for small businesses during crisis period.

The Economic Consequences of the Loan Guarantees and Firm’s Performance: A Moderate Role of Corporate Social Responsibility

This study examines the causal relationship between loan guarantee and firm’s performance through a moderate role of corporate social responsibility (CSR). This study used 350 non-financial firms of China for data analysis. This study used annual panel data set from non-financial firms starting from 2009 to 2019. The findings show that a positive significant association exists among the relationship between loan guarantee and firm’s performance. Moreover, a moderate role of Corporate Social Responsibility also strengthens the relationship between the loan guarantee and firm’s performance. Furthermore, the logit regression results show that the loan guarantee, financial performances and CSR are negatively affecting the long-term zero-debts through all combinations. Also, the financial performances and loan guarantees are negatively influencing the constraints of firms in China, which shows that the financial performances and loan guarantee improvement of the firms lead to removing the constraints of firms in China.

Who Is Next? A Study on Victims of Financial Fraud in Japan

Japan has seen an increase in the incidents of financial frauds over the last couple of decades. Although authorities are aware of the problem, an effective solution eludes them as fraudsters use innovative swindling methods and continually change the target group. Using a nationwide survey conducted by Hiroshima University, Japan, in 2020, this study investigated the socioeconomic and psychological profiles of victims of trending and special financial fraud such as fictitious billing fraud, loan guarantee fraud, and refund fraud. It was found that financial fraud victims' profiles are dissimilar at the aggregate and specific levels. At the specific level, victim profiles were diverse, that is, in fictitious billing fraud, loan guarantee fraud, and refund fraud cases. Males, married, and financially less satisfied people were more often victims of fictitious billing fraud; less anxious people were more likely victims of loan guarantee fraud; and older, asset-holding, and less-income-generating respondents were found to be victims of refund fraud. Our results also show some commonalities in the victims' profiles. For example, financially less-literate people were found to be more likely victims of fictitious billing fraud and loan guarantee fraud. Finally, respondents who lived with their family, those who did not have careful buying habits, and those who suffer from bouts of loneliness were found to be common victims of all types of special financial fraud. The results of our study suggest that a one-size-fits-all policy cannot effectively combat financial fraud.

Application of the Best International Experience when Developing a Credit Guarantee System for Small and Medium Agricultural Enterprises of Ukraine

The focus of the article is the study of the best international experience in developing the structure and implementation of a loan guarantee system to reduce and distribute risks in financing small and medium-sized agricultural enterprises. Access to finance was identified as the main problem hindering the development of small and medium-sized agricultural enterprises. It has been substantiated that due to its competitive advantages, such as a large area of arable land, low production costs and the possibility of increasing the added value of products, the agricultural sector is a priority sector of the economy. The main obstacles and problems that hinder access to financing and the development of national small and medium agribusiness are identified. It has been substantiated that credit security programs play an important role in reducing restrictions on bank lending to small and medium-sized agricultural enterprises. The basic principles of the implementation of guarantee programs carried out with state participation are given. It has been proven that credit guarantees are one of the tools widely used to support the agricultural sector of the economy. In this case, the most expedient is the issuance of guarantees that provide a partial volume of lending, when the borrowers also bear some responsibility for the return of the funds received. Based on the consideration of international experience, it is concluded that loan guarantee systems are an effective tool that can alleviate the difficulties of entering the credit market for small and medium-sized agricultural enterprises. Key policy directions are proposed that allow correcting the situation with obtaining financing for small and medium-sized agricultural enterprises. The mechanism has been developed to provide state credit guarantees to small agricultural producers. The most effective implementation of the proposed mechanism can be achieved by building a national loan guarantee system with the formation of special institutions specializing in providing investment and innovation projects. The theoretical provisions formulated in the article can serve for further developments in the field of small business support by financial and credit institutions.

Assessing Renewable Energy Loan Guarantees in the United States

Conceived as an idea to push financing toward underdeveloped clean energy technology to improve the environment, promote economic growth, and produce a more secure energy supply, the Title XVII loan guarantee program has likely failed to meet these objectives. Instead, it has been used as a political tool, exposed taxpayers to unnecessary risk, diverted funding from alternative clean energy investments, and primarily benefitted large, politically connected corporations.

DEBTOR PROTECTION IN THE EXECUTION OF FIDUCIA SECURITIES

In its development, economic needs and economic pressure cannot release every human being from his dependence on loan guarantee institutions. Fiduciary collateral institutions are not excluded, however, in its development, the installment payment process often fails, requiring that fiduciary collateral be executed to be taken by creditors, while the method of execution often uses debt collection services with a violent approach. The approach method used in this paper is an empirical juridical method where legal issues are analyzed from the normative and empirical aspects.