FinTech and SMEs financing: A systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face obstacles in raising capital and accessing financial services due to information asymmetry, high transaction costs and lack of collateral. FinTech developments have made gathering and sharing information easier, changed how funds are mobilized and alloc...

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Main Authors: Bahati Sanga, Meshach Aziakpono
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2023-12-01
Series:Digital Business
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666954423000157
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author Bahati Sanga
Meshach Aziakpono
author_facet Bahati Sanga
Meshach Aziakpono
author_sort Bahati Sanga
collection DOAJ
description Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face obstacles in raising capital and accessing financial services due to information asymmetry, high transaction costs and lack of collateral. FinTech developments have made gathering and sharing information easier, changed how funds are mobilized and allocated, and increased capital-raising activities. This paper conducts a systematic literature review on FinTech and SME financing for the period 2008–2022. So far there are unstructured and separate publications on this topic. Therefore, there is a need to consolidate the empirical research and their findings on the effectiveness of FinTech in meeting SMEs' financing needs. The bibliometric findings show that few studies on FinTech and SME financing are empirical in nature. These empirical studies surged a decade later after FinTech 3.0 started in 2008, with the majority of them using quantitative methods based on data from surveys and FinTech platforms. Furthermore, emerging alternative digital financing to SMEs have attracted more empirical studies than those on FinTech and bank lending to SMEs. In terms of publications, China is dominating, followed by the United States. The content analysis shows that FinTech has increased the ability of financial and non-financial institutions to collect and process accurate information about SMEs, thus reducing information asymmetry and transaction costs. FinTech has also increased the speed and quality of the lending cycle, from establishing an SME pipeline, collecting and processing information, to loan screening, monitoring and repayment. Finally, the paper presents research gaps and areas for future studies, challenges and policy recommendations on this novel subject.
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spelling doaj.art-8e0f3975b43d4c4bbe48feed237b1b5b2023-12-04T05:24:48ZengElsevierDigital Business2666-95442023-12-0132100067FinTech and SMEs financing: A systematic literature review and bibliometric analysisBahati Sanga0Meshach Aziakpono1Corresponding author.; University of Stellenbosch Business School, Cape Town, South Africa; Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South AfricaUniversity of Stellenbosch Business School, Cape Town, South Africa; Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South AfricaSmall and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face obstacles in raising capital and accessing financial services due to information asymmetry, high transaction costs and lack of collateral. FinTech developments have made gathering and sharing information easier, changed how funds are mobilized and allocated, and increased capital-raising activities. This paper conducts a systematic literature review on FinTech and SME financing for the period 2008–2022. So far there are unstructured and separate publications on this topic. Therefore, there is a need to consolidate the empirical research and their findings on the effectiveness of FinTech in meeting SMEs' financing needs. The bibliometric findings show that few studies on FinTech and SME financing are empirical in nature. These empirical studies surged a decade later after FinTech 3.0 started in 2008, with the majority of them using quantitative methods based on data from surveys and FinTech platforms. Furthermore, emerging alternative digital financing to SMEs have attracted more empirical studies than those on FinTech and bank lending to SMEs. In terms of publications, China is dominating, followed by the United States. The content analysis shows that FinTech has increased the ability of financial and non-financial institutions to collect and process accurate information about SMEs, thus reducing information asymmetry and transaction costs. FinTech has also increased the speed and quality of the lending cycle, from establishing an SME pipeline, collecting and processing information, to loan screening, monitoring and repayment. Finally, the paper presents research gaps and areas for future studies, challenges and policy recommendations on this novel subject.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666954423000157FinTechBank creditSME financingAlternative financing
spellingShingle Bahati Sanga
Meshach Aziakpono
FinTech and SMEs financing: A systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis
Digital Business
FinTech
Bank credit
SME financing
Alternative financing
title FinTech and SMEs financing: A systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis
title_full FinTech and SMEs financing: A systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis
title_fullStr FinTech and SMEs financing: A systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis
title_full_unstemmed FinTech and SMEs financing: A systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis
title_short FinTech and SMEs financing: A systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis
title_sort fintech and smes financing a systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis
topic FinTech
Bank credit
SME financing
Alternative financing
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666954423000157
work_keys_str_mv AT bahatisanga fintechandsmesfinancingasystematicliteraturereviewandbibliometricanalysis
AT meshachaziakpono fintechandsmesfinancingasystematicliteraturereviewandbibliometricanalysis