International Journal of the Economics of Business Best Paper Prize Announcement

The Editors have judged that the 2022 Best Paper Prize be awarded to: Mariarosaria Agostino, Lucia Errico, Sandro Rondinella and Francesco Trivieri for their paper “Lending Relationships and SMEs’ Productivity. Does Social Capital Matter?” The paper encapsulates the scholarly aims of the journal by using microeconomic analysis to examine an issue that is of scholarly interest, and pertinent to both business and policymakers. Specifically, the paper examines the association between social capital and the lending relationship between banks and small firms. Interestingly, social capital is captured as an endowment arising from the institutional context in which banks and firms operate. Therefore, the paper further enhances our understanding of the role of institutional quality in economic activity. Along with recognition from the Journal, the Best Paper Prize includes a cash award for the authors.