Seizing Opportunities: Small Businesses, Social Capital, and Banks
69 Pages Posted: 14 Apr 2022 Last revised: 8 Sep 2023
Date Written: August 21, 2023
Abstract
Why do small businesses exploit business opportunities better in some areas than others?
In a sample of 1.2 million consumer-facing establishments, social capital predicts the take-up of risk-free loans controlling for nearby bank branches, income, and education. One standard deviation in the social capital metric accounts for 20 percent of the variation in take-up rates across zip codes, surpassing the impact of a bank branch within 1000 yards. Strong social capital benefits larger, low-growth stores in less-dynamic areas, whereas bank branches help smaller, fast-growing stores in more dynamic areas. Virtual connections have the greatest effect in already advantaged locations.
Keywords: Social Capital, Reciprocity, Business Dynamism,Small Business, Local Banks, PPP, Virtual Connections
JEL Classification: G32, G20, Z1
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation