Does technology innovation in finance alleviate financing constraints and reduce debt-financing costs? Evidence from China

We use Chinese listed firms from 2011 to 2018 to explore whether and how financial technology impacts corporate debt-financing constraints and costs. Using two forms of financial technology cases in China, we explain why technology innovation in the financial industry flourishes and contributes to alleviating debt-financing constraints and reducing debt-financing costs. We empirically document that financial technology helps alleviate firms’ financing constraints and reduce firms’ debt-financing costs. We also find that financial technology plays a more significant role for private-owned firms, small firms, growth-stage firms, and firms under intense financial supervision.