Second, they undermine credit growth as banks have to concentrate their efforts on NPL resolution rather than extending new credit. Furthermore, remaining NPLs give rise to concerns that additional loan loss provisions may have to be taken, which make banks more cautious about granting new loans. From a medium term perspective, the benefits from NPL resolution are mainly associated with improved allocation of resources in the economy. Putting assets that are currently locked up in the restructuring process to more productive uses could boost growth substantially. The likely impact on GDP depends on the assumptions used but the effect could be as high as half a percent of GDP per year by some estimates.