Credit Guarantee Institutions and SME Finance

In many countries mutual guarantee schemes and institutions help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to improve their access to credit, by reducing existing information asymmetries and improving credit conditions for those who benefit from such guarantees. In European economies, mostly characterised by small firms, mutual guarantee institutions play a very significant role in sustaining national economies. This book analyzes the functioning of guarantee systems for SMEs in countries where these schemes play an important part. Furthermore, it investigates the expected evolutions of the guarantees offered by the mutual guarantee institutions in the framework of Basel II, since only under certain conditions are the guarantees eligible under the New Basel Capital Accord. The cross-country comparison emphasizes the regulatory and institutional framework, the structure, dimension and operational features, the performance and the policy makers' role.