Retraction: Unlocking SME growth: Analyzing the government subsidies’ impact on financing in China

Abstract

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Following the publication of this article [1], the corresponding authors contacted PLOS to request the retraction of the article. The corresponding authors stated that a re-examination revealed errors in the article’s data collection and analysis, including missing data that prevents reproduction of robustness checks and heterogeneity analyses.

The PLOS One Editors reviewed the data in consultation with a statistical reviewer and identified the following concerns:

The corresponding author YL stated that because of these issues all subsequent analyses, including robustness checks (GPS and IV), cannot be validated.

The PLOS One Editors consider that the above issues collectively raise concerns about the reliability and validity of the results on which the conclusions of this article [1] are based.

In light of these concerns, and in accordance with the request of the corresponding authors, the PLOS One Editors retract this article.

YL agreed with the retraction and apologizes for the issues with the published article. YH did not respond to the final editorial decision. WS and ZW either did not respond directly or could not be reached.