Financing patterns around the world: Are small firms different?

Using a firm-level survey database covering 48 countries, we investigate how financial and institutional development affects financing of large and small firms. Our database is not limited to large firms, but includes small and medium firms and data on a broad spectrum of financing sources, including leasing, supplier, development and informal finance. Small firms and firms in countries with poor institutions use less external finance, especially bank finance. Protection of property rights increases external financing of small firms significantly more than of large firms, mainly due to its effect on bank and equity finance. Small firms do not use disproportionately more leasing or trade finance compared to larger firms. Financing from these sources is positively associated with the financial development and does not compensate for lower access to bank financing of small firms in countries with underdeveloped institutions.