Measuring the relationship between supervisory authorities and banks: An assessment of the German banking sector

The successful implementation of a harmonised regulatory framework for the global banking system is still a long way off. This mainly results from (a) different traditions in banking regulation and supervision at the national level, (b) different national emphases on regulatory sub-goals such as efficiency or the protection and promotion of national financial markets, and (c) different institutional settings and conditions. In this context, studies on the banking industry’s assessment of supervisory processes and instruments highlight how effectively and efficiently individual nation states are implementing international frameworks such as Basel II and the Capital Requirements Directive for Europe. In November 2005, the German Government commissioned an evaluation of the supervisory processes and instruments of the country’s banking authorities, BaFin and Bundesbank. The study aimed to determine the options for further optimising supervision, reducing regulatory burden and bureaucracy, and otherwise restricting supervision. This paper presents the most important findings from the survey, analyses significant differences in assessments given by various banking groups, empirically evaluates significant drivers of banks’ overall satisfaction with banking supervision, and drafts proposals for improving banking regulation and supervision in Germany. Finally, aspects of further research are discussed.