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Geographic Imbalances in Access to Credit: The Roles of Branch Networks, Synergies, and Market Power
Victor Aguirregabiria, Robert Clark, Hui Wang, Jun 10, 2026Concerns about unequal access to credit across regions have become central to policy debates in many economies. Financial integration does not necessarily guarantee that funds flow to areas where credit demand is highest. Instead, geographic frictions, local market power, and institutional constraints may generate persistent “credit deserts”—regions with limited access to external finance despite substantial demand for credit.
