Legal Protection in Credit Guarantee Mechanisms for MSME Financing: A Study of Financial Inclusion in Indonesia

Authors

Abstract

This study examines how legal protections within credit guarantee mechanisms support MSME financing and strengthen financial inclusion in Indonesia. It addresses the extent to which legal and institutional arrangements can reduce credit barriers, facilitate risk sharing, and expand access to formal financing for MSMEs. Using a socio-legal research approach and a case study method, the study analyses statutory and regulatory frameworks, institutional policies, relevant documents, and the implementation of credit guarantee schemes, particularly in the context of government-supported MSME financing. The findings indicate that legal protection operates not merely as a normative framework but also as an enabling mechanism that facilitates risk distribution between financial institutions and guarantee institutions. Credit guarantee mechanisms reduce perceived credit risk, increase lending confidence, and improve MSMEs’ access to productive financing. The study further finds that the effectiveness of legal protection depends on institutional synergy, regulatory coherence, risk assessment, and adaptive governance. From a theoretical perspective, the findings demonstrate that credit guarantee mechanisms reflect the principles of Law and Development by using law as an instrument to facilitate economic participation and reduce structural barriers to financing. They also embody Welfare State principles by redistributing economic risks and promoting more equitable access to financial resources. The study contributes to the socio-legal literature by conceptualizing credit guarantee mechanisms as a legal-institutional bridge between legal protection, financial inclusion, and inclusive economic development in Indonesia.

References

Adhikary, B. K., Kutsuna, K., & Stephannie, S. (2021). Does the government credit guarantee promote micro, small, and medium enterprises? Evidence from Indonesia. Journal of Small Business & Entrepreneurship, 33(3), 323–348. https://doi.org/10.1080/08276331.2019.1666338

Arcuri, M. C., Gai, L., & Ielasi, F. (2020). Public credit guarantee schemes in supporting SMEs: An evaluation of effectiveness and impacts. International Journal of Business and Management, 15(1), 174–190. https://doi.org/10.5539/ijbm.v15n1p174

Beck, T., Klapper, L. F., & Mendoza, J. C. (2010). The typology of partial credit guarantee funds around the world. Journal of Financial Stability, 6(1), 10–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfs.2008.12.003

Boocock, G., & Shariff, M. N. M. (2005). Measuring the effectiveness of credit guarantee schemes: Evidence from Malaysia. International Small Business Journal, 23(4), 427–454. https://doi.org/10.1177/0266242605054054

Nigrini, M., & Schoombee, A. (2002). Credit guarantee schemes as an instrument to promote access to finance for small and medium enterprises: An analysis of Khula Enterprise Finance Ltd's individual credit guarantee scheme. Development Southern Africa, 19(5), 735–750. https://doi.org/10.1080/0376835022000019356

Saito, K., & Tsuruta, D. (2018). Information asymmetry in small and medium enterprise credit guarantee schemes: Evidence from Japan. Applied Economics, 50(22), 2469–2485. https://doi.org/10.1080/00036846.2017.1400651

Uesugi, I., Sakai, K., & Yamashiro, G. M. (2010). The effectiveness of public credit guarantees in the Japanese loan market. Journal of the Japanese and International Economies, 24(4), 457–480. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jjie.2010.08.001

Ono, A., Uesugi, I., & Yasuda, Y. (2013). Are lending relationships beneficial or harmful for public credit guarantees? Evidence from Japan's Emergency Credit Guarantee Program. Journal of Financial Stability, 9(2), 151–167.

Zecchini, S., & Ventura, M. (2009). The impact of public guarantees on credit to SMEs. Small Business Economics, 32, 191–206.

Arping, S., Lóránth, G., & Morrison, A. D. (2010). Public initiatives to support entrepreneurs: Credit guarantees versus co-funding. Journal of Financial Stability, 6(1), 26–35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfs.2009.05.009

Samujh, R.-H., Twiname, L., & Reutemann, J. (2012). Credit guarantee schemes supporting small enterprise development: A review. Asian Journal of Business and Accounting, 5(2).

Wardhono, A., Modjo, M. I., & Utami, E. W. (2019). The role of credit guarantee schemes for financing MSMEs: Evidence from rural and urban areas in Indonesia. ADBI Working Paper No. 967. Asian Development Bank Institute.

Rongiyarti, S. (2018). Perjanjian penjaminan kredit antara UMKM dan lembaga penjamin berdasarkan Undang-Undang Nomor 1 Tahun 2016 tentang Penjaminan. Negara Hukum: Membangun Hukum untuk Keadilan dan Kesejahteraan, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.22212/jnh.v7i1.919

Saifurrahman, A., & Kassim, S. (2024). Regulatory issues inhibiting financial inclusion: A case study among Islamic banks and MSMEs in Indonesia. Qualitative Research in Financial Markets, 16(4), 589–617.

Ratnawati, K. (2020). The influence of financial inclusion on MSMEs’ performance through financial intermediation and access to capital. Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business, 7(11), 205–218. https://doi.org/10.13106/jafeb.2020.vol7.no11.205

Ismanto, H., Atmaji, & Suhari, E. (2024). Determinants of MSMEs’ credit access: Evidence from Indonesian banks. Banks and Bank Systems, 19(3), 230–241. https://doi.org/10.21511/bbs.19(3).2024.19

Gustriani, Asngari, I., Suhel, & Yulianita, A. (2023). Determinants of financial inclusion for MSMEs: Evidence from Indonesia. Journal of Economics, Business, and Accountancy Ventura, 26(2), 260–270. https://doi.org/10.14414/jebav.v26i2.3381

Ninglasari, S. Y., Sulaeman, S., Supriani, I., & Himmawan, M. F. (2023). Nexus between financial inclusion and Islamic financing distribution: Evidence from Indonesian MSMEs. Jurnal Ekonomi & Keuangan Islam, 9(2), 167–184. https://doi.org/10.20885/JEKI.vol9.iss2.art2

Sanistasya, P. A., Rahardjo, K., & Iqbal, M. (2019). Pengaruh literasi keuangan dan inklusi keuangan terhadap kinerja usaha kecil di Kalimantan Timur. Jurnal Economia, 15(1), 48–59.

Andriyani, M., & Mulyanto, H. (2022). Inklusi keuangan: Pemoderasi literasi keuangan terhadap kinerja usaha mikro kecil menengah. MASTER: Jurnal Manajemen Strategik Kewirausahaan, 2(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.37366/master.v2i1.287

Dewi, A. L., & Setiyono, W. P. (2022). The effect of financial literacy, financial inclusion, and fintech crowdfunding on MSME performance in Sidoarjo Regency. Indonesian Journal of Innovation Studies, 20. https://doi.org/10.21070/ijins.v20i.727

Tandilino, et al. (2025). Digital financial inclusion as a mediator of digital financial literacy and government support in MSME performance. International Journal of Financial Studies, 13(4), 199. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijfs13040199

Mulyati, E., Murwadji, T., & Bernike, G. (2025). Strategy development for MSMEs in the Indonesian marketplaces through loans with performance guarantees. Cogent Social Sciences, 11(1), 2548860. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2025.2548860

Maulida, A. P., Angkasa, Suhadi, & Munir, A. B. (2026). Transforming credit guarantees in Indonesia: Legal reform and digital innovation at Askrindo. Journal of Law and Legal Reform, 7(1), 251–292. https://doi.org/10.15294/jllr.v7i1.38585

Utari, I. S., Ramada, D. P., Kamal, U., Damayanti, R., & Alias, N. (2025). The digital sanctuary: Forging legal and ethical frameworks for interfaith coexistence online. Contemporary Issues on Interfaith Law and Society, 4(2), 183–206.

Utari, I. S., Nunna, B. P., Ramada, D. P., & Alfarisi, S. (2026). Structural vulnerability and victim protection in human trafficking across Indonesia and India. Journal of Human Rights, Culture and Legal System, 6(3).

Nurtjahyo, L. I. (2021). Penelitian hukum berperspektif sosiolegal pada ranah digital: Satu tawaran metodologis. The Indonesian Journal of Socio-Legal Studies, 1(1), Article 4. https://doi.org/10.54828/ijsls.2021v1n1.4

Wiratraman, H. P. (2019). The challenges of teaching comparative law and socio-legal studies at Indonesia’s law schools. Asian Journal of Comparative Law, 14(S1), S229–S244. https://doi.org/10.1017/asjcl.2019.15

Dimyati, K., Nashir, H., Elviandri, Absori, Wardiono, K., & Budiono, A. (2021). Indonesia as a legal welfare state: A prophetic-transcendental basis. Heliyon, 7(8), e07865. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07865

Fauzia, I. (2019). Indonesia dalam doktrin hukum dan pembangunan: Indonesia in the doctrine of law and development. Asy-Syari’ah, 19(2), 197–206. https://doi.org/10.15575/as.v19i2.4358

Savitri, A. M., Murwadji, T., Lita, H. N., Putranto, R. D., & Tajudin, A. A. (2026). Mochtar Kusumaatmadja’s legal development theory as an epistemological solution for Indonesian legal reform. Journal of Law and Legal Reform, 7(3), 1365–1400. https://doi.org/10.15294/jllr.v7i3.47279

Sebastian, T. (2018). Masalah metodologis ilmu hukum Indonesia. Veritas et Justitia, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.25123/vej.v4i1.2913

Simba, A., Tajeddin, M., Dana, L.-P., & Ribeiro Soriano, D. E. (2024). Deconstructing involuntary financial exclusion: A focus on African SMEs. Small Business Economics, 62, 285–305. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-023-00767-1

Asaana, C. A. (2026). FinTech credit and MSME financing: Evidence from developing and OECD countries. Finance Research Open, 2(2), 100113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.finr.2026.100113

Pranitasari, D., Harini, S., Nugroho, S. H., Harahap, S. S., & Sudiarso, A. (2026). Digitalization and financial inclusion among women-led micro and small enterprises in Indonesia: An empirical perspective. Frontiers in Sociology.

Prihandini, W., Fariana, A., Safaria, S., & Masrifa, A. Y. A. (2026). Building a trusted and risk-resilient digital financial ecosystem: A governance framework for MSME scaling in Indonesia. International Journal of Economics, Business and Accounting Research, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.29040/ijebar.v10i2.20420

Putri, R. C., Prasada, E. A., & Trinanda, M. E. (2026). Comparative regulatory models for MSME financial contract protection in Indonesia and the Philippines. Walisongo Law Review, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.21580/walrev.2026.8.1.31777

Serang, A. E. D. (2025). Integrasi parameter ESG dalam sistem penilaian kelayakan penjaminan kredit UMKM: Pendekatan risk-based guarantee analysis. Jurnal Ilmiah Edunomika, 9(4). https://doi.org/10.29040/jie.v9i4.18674

Asian Development Bank. (2022). Financing small and medium-sized enterprises in Asia and the Pacific: Credit guarantee schemes. Asian Development Bank. https://doi.org/10.22617/TCS220030-2

World Bank. (2015). Principles for public credit guarantee schemes (CGSs) for SMEs. World Bank.

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2018). SME and entrepreneurship financing: The role of credit guarantee schemes. OECD.

International Labour Organization. (2024). Credit guarantee schemes, MSME access to finance and labour productivity in Africa. ILO

Published

2026-10-03
Abstract views: 22