Digital financing for SMEs' recovery in the post-COVID era: A bibliometric review

Abstract

The restrictions that have been implemented due to the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted the growing importance of digital financing. While traditional banking services have been limited by social distancing, reduced work hours, and lockdowns, digital financial services can deal effectively with those restriction measures while facilitating governments to channel relief and stimulus funds to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). This paper analyzes, by using the bibliometric review approach along with the VOSviewer, a data visualization software, 629 Scopus journal articles relevant to the key components of digital financing for SMEs under the pandemic. Based on the review, it identifies the most crucial policy areas for digital financing. The paper presents policy implications on how digital financial services can support MSMEs in dealing with COVID's challenges. JEL classification codes: G21, G23, G28, G32.