Product Innovation and Trade Credit Demand and Supply: Evidence from European Countries

This study addresses the relationship between product innovation and the demand and supply of trade credit. Theoretical as well as empirical studies are used to derive the hypothesis of a positive link between product innovation and trade credit demand and supply. Using a sample covering SMEs from 24 European countries this relationship is tested empirically. Basically the estimation results confirm that introducing a product innovation is positively related with demand and provision of trade credit for SMEs. Innovative firms have a higher probability to face credit constraints and therefore have a higher probability to demand for trade credit. On the other hand suppliers have an incentive to provide trade credit especially to innovative customers because they have an easier access to information about the growth potential of innovative SMEs compared to banks.