IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i3p2541-d1052614.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Development of Fintech and SME Innovation: Empirical Evidence from China

Author

Listed:
  • Hongyu Li

    (Business School, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China)

  • Zhiqiang Lu

    (Business School, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China)

  • Qili Yin

    (Audit Department, Liaoning Technical University, Fuxin 123008, China)

Abstract

Innovation is the source of competitiveness among firms and the driver of economic growth. This paper examines the influence of fintech and firms’ innovation from the perspective of stakeholder financial support. To test the relationship, we collect data from Chinese small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) between 2011 and 2017. The results indicate that there is a strong positive effect of fintech development on firms’ innovative activities. This effect operates through fintech’s role in reducing information asymmetry: it increases the availability of funding support from stakeholders for firm R&D investment. Further, the funding supports are not only from investors and banks, but also from other stakeholders. In addition, this effect is larger for bigger and more opaque firms. These findings connect fintech with firm innovation and illuminate the unique roles and mechanisms of fintech development in promoting innovation inputs and outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Hongyu Li & Zhiqiang Lu & Qili Yin, 2023. "The Development of Fintech and SME Innovation: Empirical Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-14, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:3:p:2541-:d:1052614
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/3/2541/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/3/2541/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ding, Na & Gu, Leilei & Peng, Yuchao, 2022. "Fintech, financial constraints and innovation: Evidence from China," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    2. Sylvia Novillo-Villegas & Ricardo Ayala-Andrade & Juan Pablo Lopez-Cox & Javier Salazar-Oyaneder & Patricia Acosta-Vargas, 2022. "A Roadmap for Innovation Capacity in Developing Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-20, May.
    3. Berger, Allen N. & Udell, Gregory F., 2006. "A more complete conceptual framework for SME finance," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 30(11), pages 2945-2966, November.
    4. Huanyong Ji & Guannan Xu & Yuan Zhou & Zhongzhen Miao, 2019. "The Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on Firms’ Innovation in China: The Role of Institutional Support," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(22), pages 1-20, November.
    5. Benfratello, Luigi & Schiantarelli, Fabio & Sembenelli, Alessandro, 2008. "Banks and innovation: Microeconometric evidence on Italian firms," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(2), pages 197-217, November.
    6. Phan, Dinh Hoang Bach & Narayan, Paresh Kumar & Rahman, R. Eki & Hutabarat, Akhis R., 2020. "Do financial technology firms influence bank performance?," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).
    7. Peter Gomber & Jascha-Alexander Koch & Michael Siering, 2017. "Digital Finance and FinTech: current research and future research directions," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 87(5), pages 537-580, July.
    8. Ștefan Cristian Gherghina & Mihai Alexandru Botezatu & Alexandra Hosszu & Liliana Nicoleta Simionescu, 2020. "Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs): The Engine of Economic Growth through Investments and Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-22, January.
    9. Chen, Yan & Bellavitis, Cristiano, 2020. "Blockchain disruption and decentralized finance: The rise of decentralized business models," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 13(C).
    10. Chauvet, Lisa & Jacolin, Luc, 2017. "Financial Inclusion, Bank Concentration, and Firm Performance," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 1-13.
    11. Hanna Hottenrott & Bettina Peters, 2012. "Innovative Capability and Financing Constraints for Innovation: More Money, More Innovation?," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 94(4), pages 1126-1142, November.
    12. Marek Giebel & Kornelius Kraft, 2019. "External Financing Constraints and Firm Innovation," Journal of Industrial Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 67(1), pages 91-126, March.
    13. Cassar, Gavin & Ittner, Christopher D. & Cavalluzzo, Ken S., 2015. "Alternative information sources and information asymmetry reduction: Evidence from small business debt," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 59(2), pages 242-263.
    14. Ryan, Robert M. & O’Toole, Conor M. & McCann, Fergal, 2014. "Does bank market power affect SME financing constraints?," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 495-505.
    15. Rui Wang & Jiangtao Liu & Hang(Robin) Luo, 2021. "Fintech development and bank risk taking in China," The European Journal of Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(4-5), pages 397-418, March.
    16. Bronwyn Hall, 2004. "The financing of research and development," Chapters, in: Anthony Bartzokas & Sunil Mani (ed.), Financial Systems, Corporate Investment in Innovation, and Venture Capital, chapter 2, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    17. Xinxin Zhao & Zongjun Wang & Min Deng, 2019. "Interest Rate Marketization, Financing Constraints and R&D Investments: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-17, April.
    18. Dirk Czarnitzki & Hanna Hottenrott, 2011. "R&D investment and financing constraints of small and medium-sized firms," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 36(1), pages 65-83, January.
    19. Anders Akerman & Edwin Leuven & Magne Mogstad, 2022. "Information Frictions, Internet, and the Relationship between Distance and Trade," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 14(1), pages 133-163, January.
    20. Bettina Becker, 2015. "Public R&D Policies And Private R&D Investment: A Survey Of The Empirical Evidence," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(5), pages 917-942, December.
    21. Ailian Zhang & Shuyao Wang & Bai Liu & Pei Liu, 2022. "How fintech impacts pre‐ and post‐loan risk in Chinese commercial banks," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 27(2), pages 2514-2529, April.
    22. Guo, Junyan & Fang, Hanqing & Liu, Xuexin & Wang, Cizhi & Wang, Yuan, 2023. "FinTech and financing constraints of enterprises: Evidence from China," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    23. Kong, Dejing & Zhou, Yuan & Liu, Yufei & Xue, Lan, 2017. "Using the data mining method to assess the innovation gap: A case of industrial robotics in a catching-up country," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 80-97.
    24. Vivian W. Fang & Xuan Tian & Sheri Tice, 2014. "Does Stock Liquidity Enhance or Impede Firm Innovation?," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 69(5), pages 2085-2125, October.
    25. Wu, Long & Xu, Lei, 2020. "The role of venture capital in SME loans in China," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    26. Zhao, Jinsong & Li, Xinghao & Yu, Chin-Hsien & Chen, Shi & Lee, Chi-Chuan, 2022. "Riding the FinTech innovation wave: FinTech, patents and bank performance," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 122(C).
    27. Ravi, Rahul & Hong, Youna, 2014. "Firm opacity and financial market information asymmetry," Journal of Empirical Finance, Elsevier, vol. 25(C), pages 83-94.
    28. Bin Li & Peixiang Guo & Yating Zeng, 2019. "The Impact of Haze on the Availability of Company Debt Financing: Evidence for Sustainability of Chinese Listed Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-21, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Arvind Ashta, 2023. "How Can Fintech Companies Get Involved in the Environment?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-18, July.
    2. Ying Chu & Shujun Ye & Hongchang Li & Jack Strauss & Chen Zhao, 2023. "Can Digitalization Foster Sustainable Financial Inclusion? Opportunities for Both Banks and Vulnerable Groups," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-21, April.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Giebel, Marek & Kraft, Kornelius, 2020. "Bank credit supply and firm innovation behavior in the financial crisis," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    2. Maria Luisa Mancusi & Andrea Vezzulli, 2014. "R&D AND CREDIT RATIONING IN SMEs," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 52(3), pages 1153-1172, July.
    3. Fang, Yi & Wang, Qi & Wang, Fan & Zhao, Yang, 2023. "Bank fintech, liquidity creation, and risk-taking: Evidence from China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    4. Guo, Pin & Zhang, Cheng, 2023. "The impact of bank FinTech on liquidity creation: Evidence from China," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    5. Giebel, Marek & Kraft, Kornelius, 2020. "R&D investment under financing constraints," ZEW Discussion Papers 20-018, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    6. Hottenrott, Hanna & Richstein, Robert, 2020. "Start-up subsidies: Does the policy instrument matter?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(1).
    7. Francesco Aiello & Graziella Bonanno & Stefania P. S. Rossi, 2020. "How firms finance innovation. Further empirics from European SMEs," Metroeconomica, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 71(4), pages 689-714, November.
    8. Ugur, Mehmet & Trushin, Eshref, 2018. "Asymmetric information and heterogeneous effects of R&D subsidies: evidence on R&D investment and employment of R&D personel," Greenwich Papers in Political Economy 21943, University of Greenwich, Greenwich Political Economy Research Centre.
    9. Danlin Shen & Carl R. Chen & Xinyan Yan & Zhihong Yi, 2022. "Do credit market accessibility and legal protection shape corporate innovation?," Journal of Financial Research, Southern Finance Association;Southwestern Finance Association, vol. 45(3), pages 719-754, September.
    10. Demeulemeester, Sarah & Hottenrott, Hanna, 2015. "R&D subsidies and firms' cost of debt," DICE Discussion Papers 201, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf Institute for Competition Economics (DICE).
    11. Andrea Bellucci & Ilario Favaretto & Germana Giombini, 2014. "Does Innovation Affect Credit Access? New Empirical Evidence from Italian Small Business Lending," IAW Discussion Papers 104, Institut für Angewandte Wirtschaftsforschung (IAW).
    12. Daniel Ruiz-Palomo & Manuel à ngel Fernández-Gámez & Ana León-Gómez, 2022. "Analyzing the Effect of Financial Constraints on Technological and Management Innovation in SMEs: A Gender Perspective," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(1), pages 21582440221, March.
    13. Silva Filipe & Carreira Carlos, 2017. "Financial Constraints: Do They Matter to Allocate R&D Subsidies?," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 17(4), pages 1-26, October.
    14. Deli Wang & Ke Peng & Kaiye Tang & Yewei Wu, 2022. "Does Fintech Development Enhance Corporate ESG Performance? Evidence from an Emerging Market," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-21, December.
    15. Vicente Salas-Fumás & Javier Ortiz, 2019. "Innovations’ Success and Failure in the Business Cycle," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(15), pages 1-22, August.
    16. Luca Fare & Marcus Dejardin & Eric Toulemonde, 2023. "Bankruptcy recovery rate and small businesses' innovation," DeFiPP Working Papers 2302, University of Namur, Development Finance and Public Policies.
    17. Qihang Xue & Caiquan Bai & Weiwei Xiao, 2022. "Fintech and corporate green technology innovation: Impacts and mechanisms," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(8), pages 3898-3914, December.
    18. Lei Xu & Qian Liu & Bin Li & Chen Ma, 2022. "Fintech business and firm access to bank loans," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 62(4), pages 4381-4421, December.
    19. García-Quevedo, José & Segarra-Blasco, Agustí & Teruel, Mercedes, 2018. "Financial constraints and the failure of innovation projects," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 127-140.
    20. Greta Falavigna & Roberto Ippoliti, 2022. "Financial constraints, investments, and environmental strategies: An empirical analysis of judicial barriers," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(5), pages 2002-2018, July.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:3:p:2541-:d:1052614. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.