The Role of Micro-Takaful in Financing Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: A Game-Theoretic Approach

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in Iran have persistently grappled with serious challenges, among which financing stands out as one of the most critical. The inherently high risk of failure associated with economic projects at this scale has rendered banks highly reluctant to extend financing to such enterprises. Given that these enterprises can play a pivotal role in driving economic growth and improving employment, and that bolstering their performance yields favorable outcomes across various economic dimensions of the country, this study seeks to propose a viable solution to this issue. By using game theory, it demonstrates that the introduction of a micro-takaful institution into the financing framework for SMEs can make a significant contribution to alleviating the existing predicaments of this process. The research findings reveal that incorporating micro-takaful into the SME financing process not only improves the operational environment for these businesses but also enables them to undertake a substantially larger number of economic projects by securing bank facilities. Consequently, it can be concluded that the establishment, development, and application of micro-takaful institutions constitute a prudent policy approach for mitigating the financing hurdles faced by SMEs, one that merits determined pursuit.