THE GENDER GAP IN BANK CREDIT ACCESS: THE CASE OF SMALL FIRMS

Ovaj rad istražuje postoje li razlike u odobravanju bankarskih kredita poduzetnicima i poduzetnicama te razlike između poduzetnika i poduzetnica u postupku traženja bankarskog kredita. Studija se temelji na kvalitativnom preliminarnom istraživanju među malim poduzećima na prostoru Hrvatske, koja su zatražila bankarski kredit, neovisno o tome da li je kreditni zahtjev bio odobren ili odbijen. Rezultati studije pokazuju da nema diskriminacije po spolu u pristupu bankarskim kreditima. Isto tako, nisu zabilježene razlike u uvjetima kreditiranja za poduzetnike i poduzetnice. Problem bankarske averzije prema riziku te slijedom toga, sklonost financiranju malih poduzeća, je prevladan ulogom Hrvatske banke za obnovu i razvitak (HBOR). Model suradnje između banaka i HBOR je značajno potaknuo kreditiranje poduzetnica. Konačno, rezultati pokazuju da poduzetnice značajnije sudjeluju u programima potpore i edukacije, u usporedbi sa poduzetnicima.The aim of the paper is to determine whether there is a gender gap in bank credit access among male and female entrepreneurs. In addition, the paper also investigates the differences between male and female entrepreneurs when obtaining a loan to start a business. The study is based on qualitative preliminary research among small entrepreneurs in Croatia, who requested a bank loan, regardless of whether it was rejected or approved. The results show that there is no gender gap in bank credit access. In addition, the results did not observe any differences between male and female entrepreneurs in terms of loan conditions. The problem of banks\u27 aversion to risk, and thus to the financing of the small firms in Croatia, has been replaced by the role of the Croatian bank for reconstruction and development (HBOR). The results confirm that the model of cooperation between HBOR and commercial banks strongly encourages lending to female entrepreneurs. Finally, results show that female entrepreneurs respond to and engage in different support and educational programs, compared to their male counterparts