IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/finlet/v71y2025ics1544612324014892.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Access to finance: The role of production level technology

Author

Listed:
  • Wellalage, Nirosha
  • Wallace, Damien
  • Reddy, Krishna

Abstract

The integration of robots and advanced technology in firm-level production processes represents a transformative shift in modern industrial practices. However, there is a lack of cumulative knowledge about the advancement of technology in the production processes affects mitigating the gender gap. Through the lens of financial accessibility, the study investigates how technological advancements influence firms' capacity to secure external financing and get large loans. Using the 2020 WorldBank Enterprises Survey data and a probit model for the analysis, our results suggest that industry robots and a high level of technology in production have the potential to reduce the gender gap in loan approvals. The findings of this have implications for decision-makers and policymakers, seeking to navigate the evolving landscape of technology-driven production and finance to enhance productivity and inclusivity.

Suggested Citation

  • Wellalage, Nirosha & Wallace, Damien & Reddy, Krishna, 2025. "Access to finance: The role of production level technology," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:71:y:2025:i:c:s1544612324014892
    DOI: 10.1016/j.frl.2024.106460
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1544612324014892
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.frl.2024.106460?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lene Kromann & Nikolaj Malchow-Møller & Jan Rose Skaksen & Anders Sørensen, 2020. "Automation and productivity—a cross-country, cross-industry comparison," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 29(2), pages 265-287.
    2. Albinowski, Maciej & Lewandowski, Piotr, 2024. "The impact of ICT and robots on labour market outcomes of demographic groups in Europe," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    3. Bronwyn H. Hall & Francesca Lotti & Jacques Mairesse, 2013. "Evidence on the impact of R&D and ICT investments on innovation and productivity in Italian firms," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(3), pages 300-328, April.
    4. Wellalage, Nirosha Hewa & Thrikawala, Sujani & Ghardallou, Wafa, 2022. "Political connections, family ownership and access to bank credit," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).
    5. Paul A. Pavlou & David Gefen, 2004. "Building Effective Online Marketplaces with Institution-Based Trust," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 15(1), pages 37-59, March.
    6. Deng, Li & Qian, Pengcheng, 2024. "Mitigating effect of digital payments on the micro-enterprises’ financing constraints," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 62(PB).
    7. Jay Dixon & Bryan Hong & Lynn Wu, 2021. "The Robot Revolution: Managerial and Employment Consequences for Firms," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 67(9), pages 5586-5605, September.
    8. Faber, Marius, 2020. "Robots and reshoring: Evidence from Mexican labor markets," Journal of International Economics, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    9. Shusen Qi & Steven Ongena, 2019. "Will Money Talk? Firm Bribery and Credit Access," Financial Management, Financial Management Association International, vol. 48(1), pages 117-157, March.
    10. Xiong, Yangchun & Lam, Hugo K.S. & Karimi, Sahar, 2024. "The effect of virtual reality-enabled manufacturing practices on production efficiency," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 274(C).
    11. Li, Jianjun & Wu, Zhouyi & Yu, Kaijia & Zhao, Wei, 2024. "The effect of industrial robot adoption on firm value: Evidence from China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    12. Thorsten Beck & Asli Demirgüç‐Kunt & Vojislav Maksimovic, 2005. "Financial and Legal Constraints to Growth: Does Firm Size Matter?," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 60(1), pages 137-177, February.
    13. Susan Coleman & Alicia Robb, 2009. "A comparison of new firm financing by gender: evidence from the Kauffman Firm Survey data," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 33(4), pages 397-411, December.
    14. Hogan, Teresa & Hutson, Elaine, 2005. "Capital structure in new technology-based firms: Evidence from the Irish software sector," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 15(3), pages 369-387, February.
    15. Stiglitz, Joseph E & Weiss, Andrew, 1981. "Credit Rationing in Markets with Imperfect Information," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 71(3), pages 393-410, June.
    16. Mascia, Danilo V. & Rossi, Stefania P.S., 2017. "Is there a gender effect on the cost of bank financing?," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 136-153.
    17. Huang, Shuo, 2022. "Does FinTech improve the investment efficiency of enterprises? Evidence from China’s small and medium-sized enterprises," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 571-586.
    18. Malin Malmström & Barbara Burkhard & Charlotta Sirén & Dean Shepherd & Joakim Wincent, 2024. "A Meta-Analysis of the Impact of Entrepreneurs’ Gender on their Access to Bank Finance," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 192(4), pages 803-820, 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. Gabriele Angori & David Aristei, 2020. "Heterogeneity and state dependence in firms’ access to credit: Microevidence from the euro area," SEEDS Working Papers 0220, SEEDS, Sustainability Environmental Economics and Dynamics Studies, revised Feb 2020.
    2. Dario Guarascio & Alessandro Piccirillo & Jelena Reljic, 2024. "Will robot replace workers? Assessing the impact of robots on employment and wages with meta-analysis," LEM Papers Series 2024/03, Laboratory of Economics and Management (LEM), Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy.
    3. Radeef Chundakkadan & Subash Sasidharan, 2022. "Gender gap and access to finance: A cross‐country analysis," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(1), pages 180-207, February.
    4. Filippi, Emilia & Bannò, Mariasole & Trento, Sandro, 2023. "Automation technologies and their impact on employment: A review, synthesis and future research agenda," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    5. Myint Moe Chit, 2018. "Political openness and the growth of small and medium enterprises: empirical evidence from transition economies," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 55(2), pages 781-804, September.
    6. Ana Venâncio & João Jorge, 2022. "The role of accelerator programmes on the capital structure of start-ups," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 59(3), pages 1143-1167, October.
    7. Andrés Rodríguez‐Pose & Roberto Ganau & Kristina Maslauskaite & Monica Brezzi, 2021. "Credit constraints, labor productivity, and the role of regional institutions: Evidence from manufacturing firms in Europe," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 61(2), pages 299-328, March.
    8. Emma Galli & Danilo V. Mascia & Stefania P. S. Rossi, 2020. "Bank credit constraints for women‐led SMEs: Self‐restraint or lender bias?," European Financial Management, European Financial Management Association, vol. 26(4), pages 1147-1188, September.
    9. Erik Brynjolfsson & Catherine Buffington & Nathan Goldschlag & J. Frank Li & Javier Miranda & Robert Seamans, 2023. "The Characteristics and Geographic Distribution of Robot Hubs in U.S. Manufacturing Establishments," Working Papers 23-14, Center for Economic Studies, U.S. Census Bureau.
    10. Reto Wernli & Andreas Dietrich, 2022. "Only the brave: improving self-rationing efficiency among discouraged Swiss SMEs," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 59(3), pages 977-1003, October.
    11. Deng, Liuchun & Müller, Steffen & Plümpe, Verena & Stegmaier, Jens, 2024. "Robots, occupations, and worker age: A production-unit analysis of employment," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    12. Osei-Tutu, Francis & Weill, Laurent, 2022. "Bank efficiency and access to credit: International evidence," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 46(3).
    13. Alex Coad, 2007. "Firm Growth: a Survey," Post-Print halshs-00155762, HAL.
    14. Emma Galli & Danilo Valerio Mascia & Stefania Patrizia Sonia Rossi, 2018. "Does Corruption Influence the Self-Restraint Attitude of Women-led SMEs towards Bank Lending?," CESifo Economic Studies, CESifo Group, vol. 64(3), pages 426-455.
    15. Estefanía Palazuelos & Ángel Herrero Crespo & Javier Montoya del Corte, 2018. "Effect of perceived default risk and accounting information quality on the decision to grant credit to SMEs," Risk Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 20(2), pages 121-141, May.
    16. Nguyen, Duc Nguyen & Nguyen, Canh Phuc & Dang, Le Phuong Xuan, 2022. "Uncertainty and corporate default risk: Novel evidence from emerging markets," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    17. Horvath, Akos & Lang, Peter, 2021. "Do loan subsidies boost the real activity of small firms?," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 122(C).
    18. Lisana B. Martinez & M. Belén Guercio & Aurelio F. Bariviera, 2022. "A meta‐analysis of SMEs literature based on the survey on access to finance of enterprises of the European central bank," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 27(2), pages 1870-1885, April.
    19. Natalia Salazar Ferro & Pilar Cabrera & Alejandro Becerra, 2011. "El impacto del leasing financiero sobre la inversión y el empleo en las firmas colombianas," Cuadernos de Fedesarrollo 9270, Fedesarrollo.
    20. Alejandro Martín Danon & Rafael Tessone & Guido Zack, 2021. "Banca de Desarrollo en tiempos de pandemia. Evaluación de impacto de créditos de capital de trabajo," Asociación Argentina de Economía Política: Working Papers 4459, Asociación Argentina de Economía Política.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Robots; High-level technology; Firm value; Agency cost; European countries;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D21 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Theory
    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D

    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:eee:finlet:v:71:y:2025:i:c:s1544612324014892. 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: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/frl .

    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.