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Financial reforms and persistently high bank interest spreads in Bangladesh: Pitfalls in institutional development?

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  • Hossain, Monzur

Abstract

This paper analyzes interest rate spreads and margins in Bangladesh for the period 1990–2008 by applying the Arellano–Bover/Blundell–Bond dynamic panel regression model to a panel of 43 banks. The model has been applied to tackle short-panel bias and endogeneity problems in banking analysis. A high degree of persistency in spreads and margins is observed, which points to inefficiencies of bank management. More specifically, high administrative costs, high non-performing loan ratio, market power, small share of deposits and some macroeconomic factors are found to be the key determinants of persistently high interest rate spreads and margins in Bangladesh. The findings of this study suggest that reforms commenced in the 1990s could not generate adequate competition and efficiency in the financial sector, particularly to drive down the spread in line with the predictions of interest rate literature. This situation in other words indicates pitfalls in institutional development.

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  • Hossain, Monzur, 2012. "Financial reforms and persistently high bank interest spreads in Bangladesh: Pitfalls in institutional development?," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 23(4), pages 395-408.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:asieco:v:23:y:2012:i:4:p:395-408
    DOI: 10.1016/j.asieco.2011.12.002
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    Cited by:

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    2. Carolina Laureti & Ariane Szafarz, 2012. "The Time-Inconsistency Factor: How Banks Adapt to their Mix of Savers," Working Papers CEB 12-035, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
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    5. Salleh, Maisyarah & Possumah, Bayu Taufiq & Ahmat, Nizam, 2018. "Net Profit Margin Determinants of Islamic Subsidiaries of Conventional Banks in Malaysia," Jurnal Ekonomi Malaysia, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, vol. 52(2), pages 163-173.
    6. Kashem, Mohammad Abul & Rahman, Mohammad Mafizur, 2018. "Nexus between the banking sector interest rate spread and interbank borrowing rate: An econometric investigation for Bangladesh," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 34-47.
    7. Zied Saadaoui, 2018. "Dealing with High Bank Interest Margins in Tunisia: A Dynamic Panel Investigation," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 30(4), pages 434-448, December.
    8. Faris Nasif Al Shubiri & Syed Ahsan Jamil, 2017. "Assessing the Determinants of Interest Rate Spread of Commercial Banks in Oman: An Empirical Investigation," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(2A), pages 90-108.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Interest rate spread and margin; Financial liberalization; Bank efficiency; Bangladesh;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • O16 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Financial Markets; Saving and Capital Investment; Corporate Finance and Governance

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