SME lending and competition : an international comparison of markets

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.