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Productivity and efficiency at bank holding companies in the U.S.: a time-varying heterogeneity approach

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  • Guohua Feng

    (University of North Texas)

  • Bin Peng

    (University of Bath)

  • Xiaohui Zhang

    (University of Exeter)

Abstract

This paper investigates the productivity and efficiency of large bank holding companies (BHCs) in the United States over the period 2004–2013, by estimating a translog stochastic distance frontier (SDF) model with time-varying heterogeneity. The main feature of this model is that a multi-factor structure is used to disentangle time-varying unobserved heterogeneity from inefficiency. Our empirical results strongly suggest that unobserved heterogeneity is not only present in the U.S. banking industry, but also varies over time. Our results from the translog SDF model with time-varying heterogeneity show that the majority of large BHCs in the U.S. exhibit increasing returns to scale, a small percentage exhibit constant returns to scale, and an even smaller percentage exhibit decreasing returns to scale. Our results also show that on average the BHCs have experienced small positive or even negative technical change and productivity growth.

Suggested Citation

  • Guohua Feng & Bin Peng & Xiaohui Zhang, 2017. "Productivity and efficiency at bank holding companies in the U.S.: a time-varying heterogeneity approach," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 48(2), pages 179-192, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jproda:v:48:y:2017:i:2:d:10.1007_s11123-017-0515-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s11123-017-0515-5
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    2. Partovi, Elmira & Matousek, Roman, 2019. "Bank efficiency and non-performing loans: Evidence from Turkey," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 287-309.
    3. Tai-Hsin Huang & Yi-Chun Lin & Kuo-Jui Huang & Yu-Wei Liao, 2022. "Comparing Cost Efficiency Between Financial and Non-financial Holding Banks and Insurers in Taiwan Under the Framework of Copula Methods and Metafrontier," Asia-Pacific Financial Markets, Springer;Japanese Association of Financial Economics and Engineering, vol. 29(4), pages 735-766, December.
    4. Feng, Guohua & Peng, Bin & Su, Liangjun & Yang, Thomas Tao, 2019. "Semi-parametric single-index panel data models with interactive fixed effects: Theory and practice," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 212(2), pages 607-622.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Productivity and efficiency; Bank holding companies; Translog stochastic distance frontier model with time-varying heterogeneity; Bayesian estimation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C11 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Bayesian Analysis: General
    • D24 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Production; Cost; Capital; Capital, Total Factor, and Multifactor Productivity; Capacity
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages

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