What's Wrong with Romanian Rural Finance? Understanding the Determinants of Private Farmers' Access to Credit

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Abstract
This analysis of the determinants of private farmer access to rural finance in Romania has two distinct aspects: (i) a quantitative evaluation of some measurable variables for example factors affecting the amount of loans and the volume of savings; and (ii) a qualitative aspect, concentrating on the relationship between financial service suppliers and private farmers. We also consider the motivations underlying the participation or non-participation of private farmers in the development of the rural financial market. We have estimated two regression models: a) to determine the main characteristics of the private farms that have access to formal credit; and b) to estimate how farm income, the source and utilization of credit each impact on the actual loan amounts obtained. The paper attempts at all times to reflect the problems that farmers have highlighted in gaining access to rural finance in the results of our analysis.