SME lending and competition : an international comparison of markets

270 | Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) | May 2016

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This report contributes to the policy debate by considering the performance of the UK market for small and medium enterprises (SME) bank lending. This lending is analysed in relation to a set of international peers with a focus on SME bank lending as opposed to SME banking services more broadly. 

The report centres around three main areas of analysis:

  • A summary of the historical economic development of banking arrangements - particularly SME bank lending including an analysis of regulatory and policy milestones and major consolidation waves over the last 50 years.
  • A comparison of how the UK SME bank lending market compares internationally - with particular attention to in depth studies on Germany, Italy and the USA.
  • A discussion of the feasability of a potential study on the relationship between competition and lending.