Insolvency Prospects Among Small-and-Medium-Sized Enterprises in Advanced Economies: Assessment and Policy Options

Author/Editor:

Federico J Diez ; Romain A Duval ; Jiayue Fan ; Jose M Garrido ; Sebnem Kalemli-Ozcan ; Chiara Maggi ; Maria Soledad Martinez Peria ; Nicola Pierri

Publication Date:

April 2, 2021

Electronic Access:

Free Download. Use the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this PDF file

Disclaimer: This Staff Discussion Note represents the views of the authors and does not necessarily represent IMF views or IMF policy. The views expressed herein should be attributed to the authors and not to the IMF, its Executive Board, or its management. Staff Discussion Notes are published to elicit comments and to further debate.

Summary:

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased insolvency risks, especially among small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which are vastly overrepresented in hard-hit sectors. Without government intervention, even firms that are viable a priori could end up being liquidated—particularly in sectors characterized by labor-intensive technologies, threatening both macroeconomic and social stability. This staff discussion note assesses the impact of the pandemic on SME insolvency risks and policy options to address them. It quantifies the impact of weaker aggregate demand, changes in sectoral consumption patterns, and lockdowns on firm balance sheets and estimates the impact of a range of policy options, for a large sample of SMEs in (mostly) advanced economies.

Series:

Staff Discussion Notes No. 2021/002

Subject:

Frequency:

occasional

English

Publication Date:

April 2, 2021

ISBN/ISSN:

9781513574561/2617-6750

Stock No:

SDNEA2021002

Pages:

28

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