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Applying efficiency measurement techniques to central banks

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  • Loretta J. Mester

Abstract

This paper reviews the standard techniques of efficiency measurement, discusses some of the issues that arise in applying these standard techniques to central banks, and reviews some of the literature that has attempted to apply these techniques to central banking. The uniqueness of some of the activities of central banking, the difficulty in measuring some of the central banking outputs, and the complicated and multiple objectives pursued by central banks makes application of the standard techniques problematic. However, certain central bank activities do lend themselves to efficiency measurement, e.g., payment services provision.

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  • Loretta J. Mester, 2003. "Applying efficiency measurement techniques to central banks," Working Papers 03-13, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.
  • Handle: RePEc:fip:fedpwp:03-13
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Hughes, Joseph P. & Mester, Loretta J. & Moon, Choon-Geol, 2001. "Are scale economies in banking elusive or illusive?: Evidence obtained by incorporating capital structure and risk-taking into models of bank production," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 25(12), pages 2169-2208, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Chris Heerden & Riaan Rossouw, 2014. "Resource utilisation Efficiency: A South African Provincial Evaluation," South African Journal of Economics, Economic Society of South Africa, vol. 82(4), pages 475-492, December.
    2. Jorge E. Galán and & Miguel Sarmiento, 2008. "Banknote Printing at Modern central Banking: Trends, Costs and Efficiency," Money Affairs, CEMLA, vol. 0(2), pages 217-262, July-Dece.
    3. de Mendonça, Helder Ferreira & Nascimento, Natalia Cunha, 2020. "Monetary policy efficiency and macroeconomic stability: Do financial openness and economic globalization matter?," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    4. Sirak Bahta & Amos Omore & Darek Baker & Iheanacho Okike & Berhanu Gebremedhin & Francis Wanyoike, 0. "An Analysis of Technical Efficiency in the Presence of Developments Toward Commercialization: Evidence from Tanzania’s Milk Producers," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 0, pages 1-24.
    5. Loretta J. Mester, 2005. "Optimal industrial structure in banking," Working Papers 08-2, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.
    6. Mamatzakis, E & Koutsomanoli, A, 2009. "Risk in the EU banking industry and efficiency under quantile analysis," MPRA Paper 22492, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Sirak Bahta & Amos Omore & Darek Baker & Iheanacho Okike & Berhanu Gebremedhin & Francis Wanyoike, 2021. "An Analysis of Technical Efficiency in the Presence of Developments Toward Commercialization: Evidence from Tanzania’s Milk Producers," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 33(3), pages 502-525, June.
    8. Ms. JoAnne Morris & Mr. Tonny Lybek, 2004. "Central Bank Governance: A Survey of Boards and Management," IMF Working Papers 2004/226, International Monetary Fund.
    9. Iftekhar Hasan & Loretta J Mester, 2008. "Central Bank Institutional Structure and Effective Central Banking: Cross-Country Empirical Evidence," Comparative Economic Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Association for Comparative Economic Studies, vol. 50(4), pages 620-645, December.
    10. Iftekhar Hasan & Loretta J Mester, 2008. "Central Bank Institutional Structure and Effective Central Banking: Cross-Country Empirical Evidence," Comparative Economic Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Association for Comparative Economic Studies, vol. 50(4), pages 620-645, December.
    11. Anastasia I. Koutsomanoli‐Filippaki & Emmanuel C. Mamatzakis, 2011. "Efficiency under quantile regression: What is the relationship with risk in the EU banking industry?," Review of Financial Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 20(2), pages 84-95, May.
    12. Babalos, Vassilios & Mamatzakis, Emmanuel C. & Matousek, Roman, 2015. "The performance of US equity mutual funds," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 217-229.
    13. Maria Giorgetti, 2006. "Scope economies in the pharmaceutical sector," International Review of Economics, Springer;Happiness Economics and Interpersonal Relations (HEIRS), vol. 53(3), pages 373-401, September.
    14. E. Mamatzakis, 2015. "Risk and efficiency in the Central and Eastern European banking industry under quantile analysis," Quantitative Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(3), pages 553-567, March.
    15. repec:zbw:bofrdp:2008_029 is not listed on IDEAS
    16. Bahta, Sirak & Malope, Patrick, 2014. "Measurement of competitiveness in smallholder livestock systems and emerging policy advocacy: An application to Botswana," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(P2), pages 408-417.
    17. Do Van Anh,, 2022. "Does better capitalization enhance bank efficiency and limit risk taking? Evidence from ASEAN commercial banks," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).

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