FACTORS AFFECTING LOANS TO SMES BY THE BANKING SECTOR: AN EMPIRICAL APPLICATION ON TURKİYE

Despite their contribution to innovation, employment and economic growth, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face many problems in accessing finance. The most important of these problems is their access to bank loans. In many countries, including our country, SMEs can overcome this problem to some extent thanks to government support and incentive programs. In this study, gross domestic product (GDP), consumer confidence index (CCI) and real sector confidence index (RSCI) were selected as factors that are thought to affect the loans extended to SMEs by the banking sector on a scale basis, and the relationship between them and the relevant factors was examined using the ARDL bounds test in 2013Q2-2023Q2 period. According to the empirical findings obtained because of the relevant study, a long-term relationship was determined between variables related to SME bank loans. In the long term, while GDP and RSCI variables affect micro-scale business loans negatively, CCI variable affects them positively. While SME bank loans of other scales are negatively affected by the RSCI variable in the long run, they are positively affected by the GDP and CCI variables.