IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spt/apfiba/v14y2024i1f14_1_1.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Estimation of Efficiency and the Effect of Access to Finance on Efficiency of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMES) in the Western area of Sierra Leone

Author

Listed:
  • Richard E.O Pearce
  • Abdullah Bah

Abstract

To estimate the efficiency of SMEs and the effect of access to finance on the efficiency of SMEs the study adopted the stochastic frontier estimation method of determining efficiency of firms. A model of maximum performance (capacity) was estimated using 450 SMEs randomly selected from the population of registered SMEs in the Western Area of Sierra Leone from 2018 to 2020. The model of net business earnings was estimated using the Maximum Likelihood procedure and the firm efficiencies were consequently estimated. The mean inefficiencies are estimated by various categories, including SMEs access to bank credit to determine firm characteristics that are associated with higher mean efficiencies. The empirical results reveal that the potential of firms is determined positively by capital productivity and labour productivity and negatively by experience of firms, the latter results suggesting that more experience (in terms of age) does not push their production outwards but inwards. However, other factors are found significant in efficiency differences among firms. These are: gender of the head of the SME, educational level, professional training of the firm heads, sector of operation and the area of operation. Â JEL classification numbers: F14, F18, G14, G21.

Suggested Citation

  • Richard E.O Pearce & Abdullah Bah, 2024. "Estimation of Efficiency and the Effect of Access to Finance on Efficiency of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMES) in the Western area of Sierra Leone," Journal of Applied Finance & Banking, SCIENPRESS Ltd, vol. 14(1), pages 1-1.
    • Handle: RePEc:spt:apfiba:v:14:y:2024:i:1:f:14_1_1
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.scienpress.com/Upload/JAFB%2fVol%2014_1_1.pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Akhigbe, Aigbe & McNulty, James E., 2003. "The profit efficiency of small US commercial banks," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 27(2), pages 307-325, February.
    2. Joachim Wagner, 2016. "Exports and Productivity: A Survey of the Evidence from Firm Level Data," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Microeconometrics of International Trade, chapter 1, pages 3-41, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    3. Federico Mini & Edgard Rodriguez, 2000. "Technical Efficiency Indicators in a Philippine Manufacturing Sector," International Review of Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 14(4), pages 461-473.
    4. Miroslav Mateev & Yanko Anastasov, 2010. "Determinants of small and medium sized fast growing enterprises in central and eastern Europe: a panel data analysis," Financial Theory and Practice, Institute of Public Finance, vol. 34(3), pages 269-295.
    5. Bahta, Sirak & Baker, Derek, 2015. "Determinants of Profit Efficiency Among Smallholder Beef Producers in Botswana," International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, International Food and Agribusiness Management Association, vol. 18(3), pages 1-24, September.
    6. Diamond, Douglas W, 1991. "Monitoring and Reputation: The Choice between Bank Loans and Directly Placed Debt," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 99(4), pages 689-721, August.
    7. Chih-Hai Yang & Ku-Hsieh Chen, 2009. "Are small firms less efficient?," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 32(4), pages 375-395, April.
    8. Yang, Ji-Chung, 2006. "The efficiency of SMEs in the global market: Measuring the Korean performance," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 28(8), pages 861-876, November.
    9. Elena Golovko & Giovanni Valentini, 2011. "Exploring the complementarity between innovation and export for SMEs’ growth," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 42(3), pages 362-380, April.
    10. Jens Matthias Arnold & Katrin Hussinger, 2005. "Export Behavior and Firm Productivity in German Manufacturing: A Firm-Level Analysis," Review of World Economics (Weltwirtschaftliches Archiv), Springer;Institut für Weltwirtschaft (Kiel Institute for the World Economy), vol. 141(2), pages 219-243, July.
    11. Malerba, Franco, 1992. "Learning by Firms and Incremental Technical Change," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 102(413), pages 845-859, July.
    12. Robert M. Salomon & J. Myles Shaver, 2005. "Learning by Exporting: New Insights from Examining Firm Innovation," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 14(2), pages 431-460, June.
    13. Jovanovic, Boyan, 1982. "Selection and the Evolution of Industry," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 50(3), pages 649-670, May.
    14. Mead, Donald C. & Liedholm, Carl, 1998. "The dynamics of micro and small enterprises in developing countries," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 26(1), pages 61-74, January.
    15. Yan Dong & Chao Men, 2014. "SME Financing in Emerging Markets: Firm Characteristics, Banking Structure and Institutions," Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(1), pages 120-149, January.
    16. Alvarez, Roberto & Crespi, Gustavo, 2003. "Determinants of Technical Efficiency in Small Firms," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 20(3), pages 233-244, May.
    17. Roberto Alvarez & Raymond Robertson, 2004. "Exposure to foreign markets and plant-level innovation: evidence from Chile and Mexico," The Journal of International Trade & Economic Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 13(1), pages 57-87.
    18. Kolawole, Ogundari, 2006. "Determinants of Profit Efficiency Among Small Scale Rice Farmers in Nigeria: A Profit Function Approach," 2006 Annual Meeting, August 12-18, 2006, Queensland, Australia 25238, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    19. Dimitris Balios & Nikolaos Eriotis & Alexandra Fragoudaki & Dimitrios Giokas, 2015. "Economic efficiency of Greek retail SMEs in a period of high fluctuations in economic activity: a DEA approach," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 47(33), pages 3577-3593, July.
    20. Aigner, Dennis & Lovell, C. A. Knox & Schmidt, Peter, 1977. "Formulation and estimation of stochastic frontier production function models," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 6(1), pages 21-37, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    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. Adugna Lemi & Ian Wright, 2020. "Exports, foreign ownership, and firm-level efficiency in Ethiopia and Kenya: an application of the stochastic frontier model," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 58(2), pages 669-698, February.
    2. Ramos Ruiz, José & Polo Otero, José & Arrieta Barcasnegras, Aquiles & Vega Cárcamo, Jean, 2018. "Impacto de la innovación en marketing sobre la conducta exportadora de las empresas del sector agroindustrial español || Impact of Marketing Innovation on Exporting Behavior for Spanish Agro-Industry ," Revista de Métodos Cuantitativos para la Economía y la Empresa = Journal of Quantitative Methods for Economics and Business Administration, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Department of Quantitative Methods for Economics and Business Administration, vol. 25(1), pages 54-71, Junio.
    3. Ku-Hsieh Chen & Pei-Hwa Chen & Julie Ann Elston & Yingchao Zhang, 2023. "Are family firms more efficient? Revisiting the U-shaped curve of scale and efficiency," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 61(3), pages 983-1008, October.
    4. Charoenrat, Teerawat & Harvie, Charles, 2014. "The efficiency of SMEs in Thai manufacturing: A stochastic frontier analysis," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 372-393.
    5. Martijn Boermans & Hein Roelfsema, 2015. "The Effects of Internationalization on Innovation: Firm-Level Evidence for Transition Economies," Open Economies Review, Springer, vol. 26(2), pages 333-350, April.
    6. Antonio Arbelo & Marta Arbelo-Pérez & Pilar Pérez-Gómez, 2022. "Are SMEs less efficient? A Bayesian approach to addressing heterogeneity across firms," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 58(4), pages 1915-1929, April.
    7. Francisco J. Santos-Arteaga & Celia Torrecillas & Madjid Tavana, 2019. "Dynamic effects of learning on the innovative outputs and productivity in Spanish multinational enterprises," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 44(1), pages 97-131, February.
    8. Jože P. Damijan & Črt Kostevc & Sašo Polanec, 2010. "From Innovation to Exporting or Vice Versa?," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(3), pages 374-398, March.
    9. World Bank, 2008. "Harnessing Competitiveness for Stronger Inclusive Growth : Bangladesh Second Investment Climate Assessment," World Bank Publications - Reports 8025, The World Bank Group.
    10. Wolday Amha, 2016. "Growth of Youth-owned MSEs in Ethiopia: Characteristics, Determinants and Challenges," Ethiopian Journal of Economics, Ethiopian Economics Association, vol. 24(2), August.
    11. Bartoloni, Eleonora & Baussola, Maurizio & Bagnato, Luca, 2020. "Waiting for Godot? Success or failure of firms’ growth in a panel of Italian manufacturing firms," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 259-275.
    12. Riadh Ben Jelili, "undated". "Firm Heterogeneity and Productivity: The Contribution of Microdata," API-Working Paper Series 1013, Arab Planning Institute - Kuwait, Information Center.
    13. Horvath, Akos & Lang, Peter, 2021. "Do loan subsidies boost the real activity of small firms?," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 122(C).
    14. Idris, Bochra & Saridakis, George & Khan, Zaheer, 2022. "The Effect of Outward and Inward Internationalisation on Different Types of Innovation: Evidence from UK SMEs," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 28(2).
    15. Chih-Hai Yang & Ku-Hsieh Chen, 2009. "Are small firms less efficient?," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 32(4), pages 375-395, April.
    16. Areti Gkypali & Apostolos Rafailidis & Kostas Tsekouras, 2015. "Innovation and export performance: do young and mature innovative firms differ?," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 5(2), pages 397-415, December.
    17. Fatou Cissé & Ji Eun Choi, 2015. "Do firms learn by exporting or learn to export? Evidence from Senegalese manufacturing plant," WIDER Working Paper Series 057, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    18. Pradhan, Jaya Prakash, 2011. "Regional heterogeneity and firms’ innovation: the role of regional factors in industrial R&D in India," MPRA Paper 28096, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    19. Wang, Wei & Ma, Hao, 2018. "Export strategy, export intensity and learning: Integrating the resource perspective and institutional perspective," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 53(4), pages 581-592.
    20. Armando Silva & Óscar Afonso & Ana Paula Africano, 2010. "Do Portuguese manufacturing firms self select to exports?," FEP Working Papers 371, Universidade do Porto, Faculdade de Economia do Porto.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Efficiency; Finance; Small and Medium Enterprises.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • F18 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Trade and Environment
    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:spt:apfiba:v:14:y:2024:i:1:f:14_1_1. 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: Eleftherios Spyromitros-Xioufis (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.scienpress.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.