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Does Monopolistic Competition Exist In The Mena Region? Evidence From The Banking Sector

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  • Michael L. Polemis

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type="main"> The goal of this paper is to empirically assess the level of banking competition in selected Middle East and Northern African (MENA) countries. The analysis employs the estimation of a non-structural indicator (H-statistic) introduced by Panzar and Rosse and draws upon a panel dataset of eight MENA countries (Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Morocco, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates) over the period 1997–2012. The empirical findings are robust towards three different panel data econometric techniques (Ordinary Least Squares, Pooled Generalized Least Squares with Fixed Effects, and Generalized Method of Moments) and consistent with other similar studies, providing sufficient evidence in favour of a banking monopolistic competition regime. Furthermore, the estimation of three other alternative measures of competition (Lerner index, adjusted Lerner index, and conduct parameter) provides similar results, revealing that the banking sector in the MENA region is characterized by a low level of Significant Market Power (SMP). Overall, the analysis shows that, despite similarities in the process of financial regulatory reforms undertaken in the eight MENA countries, the observed competition levels of banks vary substantially, with Algeria and Morocco consistently outperforming the rest of the region.

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  • Michael L. Polemis, 2015. "Does Monopolistic Competition Exist In The Mena Region? Evidence From The Banking Sector," Bulletin of Economic Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 67(S1), pages 74-96, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:buecrs:v:67:y:2015:i:s1:p:s74-s96
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    8. Issa, Samah & Girardone, Claudia & Snaith, Stuart, 2022. "Banking competition, convergence and growth across macro-regions of MENA," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 534-549.
    9. Polemis, Michael L. & Fafaliou, Irene, 2015. "Electricity regulation and FDIs spillovers in the OECD: A panel data econometric approach," The Journal of Economic Asymmetries, Elsevier, vol. 12(2), pages 110-123.
    10. Chaffai, Mohamed & Coccorese, Paolo, 2023. "Banking market power and its determinants: New insights from MENA countries," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    11. Christos Agiakloglou & Michael Polemis, 2018. "The Impact of Structural Reforms on Telecommunications Performance," Journal of Industry, Competition and Trade, Springer, vol. 18(2), pages 209-222, June.
    12. Hatem Elfeituri & Konstantinos Vergos, 2019. "Is the MENA banking sector competitive?," Journal of Banking Regulation, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 20(2), pages 124-135, June.
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    14. Hind Alnafisah & Lama Alwohaibi, 2024. "The Cost Efficiency and Competition Relationship: Evidence from Saudi Arabian Banks and Non-Structural Approaches to Analysis," Economies, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-13, January.

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