Photographs: Reuters.
Finance plays a key role in bringing the ambitious growth plans of dynamic businesses to life.
Central banks across the globe from the ECB to the United States Federal Reserve to the Bank of Japan have been required to pump liquidity into their economies to keep them afloat since the collapse of Lehman Brothers and the ensuing global financial crisis.
In 2009, more than 26 per cent of businesses globally cited a shortage of long term finance, working capital and the cost of finance as constraints on their growth prospects.
Each of these factors fell between 2010 and 2011 and this trend has continued in 2012 with 22 per cent of businesses globally citing all three factors, according to the Grant Thronton International Business Report.
Click NEXT to find out the countries facing financial constraints on growth...
10 nations facing a severe financial crunch
Image: Confiscated cars parked at the Oddy yard in Athens.Photographs: John Kolesidis/Reuters.
Greece
It tops the ranking for the economies most constrained by the cost of finance and a shortage of working capital.
Average percentage of businesses struggling for funds: 59%
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10 nations facing a severe financial crunch
Photographs: Reuters.
Vietnam
Average percentage of businesses struggling for funds: 59%
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10 nations facing a severe financial crunch
Photographs: Reuters.
India
Average percentage of businesses struggling for funds: 54%
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10 nations facing a severe financial crunch
Image: Atocha Station, Madrid.Photographs: Daderot/Wikimedia Commons.
Average percentage of businesses struggling for funds: 45%
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10 nations facing a severe financial crunch
Image: An aerial view of St Peter's square in Rome.Photographs: Alessandro Bianchi/Reuters.
Italy
Average percentage of businesses struggling for funds: 42%
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10 nations facing a severe financial crunch
Image: Overview of Buenos Aires' 9 de Julio Avenue.Photographs: Enrique Marcarian/Reuters.
Argentina
Average percentage of businesses struggling for funds: 40%
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10 nations facing a severe financial crunch
Image: Bangkok.Photographs: Wikimedia Commons.
Thailand
Average percentage of businesses struggling for funds: 37%
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10 nations facing a severe financial crunch
Image: A view of Istanbul's financial district.Photographs: Murad Sezer/Reuters.
Turkey
Average percentage of businesses struggling for funds: 35%
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10 nations facing a severe financial crunch
Image: Moscow's business district..Photographs: Denis Sinyakov/Reuters.
Russia
Average percentage of businesses struggling for funds: 32%
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10 nations facing a severe financial crunch
Photographs: Reuters.
Georgia
Average percentage of businesses struggling for funds: 31%
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10 nations facing a severe financial crunch
Image: A woman cycles past the 'Coffee To Get Her' restaurant near Dublin city centre, which becomes a bar and club in the evenings.Photographs: Cathal McNaughton/Reuters.
Ireland
Average percentage of businesses struggling for funds: 31%
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