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The Janus Face of bank geographic complexity

Author

Listed:
  • Iñaki Aldasoro
  • Bryan Hardy
  • Maximilian Jager

Abstract

We study the relationship between bank geographic complexity and risk using a unique dataset of 96 global bank holding companies (BHCs) over 2008-2016. From data on the affiliate network of internationally active banking entities, we construct a measure of geographic coverage and complexity for each BHC. We find that higher geographic complexity heightens banks' capacity to absorb local economic shocks, reducing their risk. However, higher geographic complexity is also associated with a higher vulnerability to global shocks and less impact of prudential regulation, increasing their risk. Geographic complexity helps more (with respect to local shocks) and hurts less (with respect to global shocks) if countries' business cycles are misaligned. Large, international regulatory reforms such as the implementation of the GSIB framework and the European Single Supervisory Mechanism reduce bank risk, but geographic complexity weakens this effect. Bank geographic complexity therefore has a Janus face, decreasing some but increasing other aspects of bank risk.

Suggested Citation

  • Iñaki Aldasoro & Bryan Hardy & Maximilian Jager, 2020. "The Janus Face of bank geographic complexity," BIS Working Papers 858, Bank for International Settlements.
    • Handle: RePEc:bis:biswps:858
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    Cited by:

    1. Vittoria Cerasi & Stefano Montoli, 2020. "Bank resolution and multinational banks," Working Papers 447, University of Milano-Bicocca, Department of Economics, revised Jul 2020.
    2. Claudia M. Buch & Linda S. Goldberg, 2021. "Complexity and Riskiness of Banking Organizations: Evidence from the International Banking Research Network," Staff Reports 966, Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
    3. Simoens, Mathieu & Vander Vennet, Rudi, 2022. "Does diversification protect European banks’ market valuations in a pandemic?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 44(C).
    4. John Caparusso & Bryan Hardy, 2022. "Bank funding: evolution, stability and the role of foreign offices," BIS Quarterly Review, Bank for International Settlements, September.
    5. Iñaki Aldasoro & John Caparusso & Yingyuan Chen, 2022. "Global banks' local presence: a new lens," BIS Quarterly Review, Bank for International Settlements, March.
    6. Stefan Avdjiev & Maximilian Jager, 2022. "Bank opacity - patterns and implications," BIS Working Papers 992, Bank for International Settlements.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    bank geographic complexity; bank risk; bank regulation; GSIB;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • G28 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Government Policy and Regulation

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