The role of loan and guarantee funds in filling the funding gap for small and medium-sized enterprises

Abstract

Research background. The analysis of the funding gap for SMEs and loan and guarantee funds' capability to fill this gap has been undertaken to assess the instruments used in Poland which are focused on the development of entrepreneurship. Methodology/methods. The funding gap for small and medium-sized enterprises is measured with the method of unfulfilled demand for funding and unawarded funding. The size of the gap is compared to the potential amount of the guarantees and loans granted by non-bank organisations in Poland dependent on the amount of capital held. Purpose of the article. The purpose of the article is to answer the research question of whether guarantee and loan funds in Poland play a significant role in filling the funding gap for small and medium-sized enterprises.