The study looked at how financial problems affect the growth of small and medium-sized businesses in South Eastern Europe. They used data from a survey done between 2012 and 2016 and did different types of analysis to understand the situation. The results showed that financial issues really hurt the growth of these businesses in the region. Companies in the trade sector have a harder time getting money, and older businesses find it even more challenging. Also, having fewer banks in the area makes it harder for businesses to get loans, but having more local credit available helps ease the financial problems for these businesses.