The impact of social geographical environment on the geographical differences in financing of small and micro enterprises
摘要
This study examines the impact of social and geographical environment on the financing of small and micro businesses (SMEs) in various regions of Guangdong Province, China. We gathered detailed data from five locations —Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Foshan, Dongguan, and several rural zones —to examine the relationship between local economy, education, and financial setup and the ease of obtaining funding for SMEs. What we found is that Significant regional disparities exist between regions, with the big cities having substantially better access to formal financing than the countryside areas. There is also a strong link between factors such as GDP per person, education levels, and a place’s level of development, with how successful SMEs are at obtaining loans or financial assistance. In the end, the study points to some ideas for fixing these financing gaps, especially in rural areas, by focusing on the social and geographic factors that are causing the imbalance in the first place. The study provides empirical evidence that geographical location significantly determines SME financing outcomes beyond firm-specific characteristics, with correlation coefficients exceeding 0.90 between regional development indicators and financing access rates. These findings have important implications for designing spatially-targeted financial inclusion policies that address the underlying geographical determinants of financing inequality rather than treating symptoms alone.