Factores que limitan la oferta de financiamiento a las pymes en Ecuador en la última década

The purpose of this article is to analyze the contextual factors that tend to limit the supply of financing products aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ecuador. This research work arises from the problems observed in the development of SMEs in the country, which is reflected in the high percentage of businesses that fail shortly after starting operations. In addition to other causes, companies claim that this failure is closely related to the barriers they face in accessing credit, particularly on the supply side of financial products. Therefore, the article offers a new perspective on the relationship between the current economic situation and the growth potential of the SME business network, focusing on the supply of financing. Through a literature review, the paper identifies the external variables or factors that affect the supply of financial products, and then considers the specific characteristics of Ecuador’s current situation. It concludes that the context in which Ecuadorian SMEs operate is not optimal, there are market failures that negatively affect them, and current monetary policies—especially interest rates—do not encourage financial institutions to increase their credit offerings.