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Interest rate liberalization and the procyclicality of the bank liquidity buffer: Evidence from China

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  • Jiang, Hai
  • Zhu, Yunfan
  • Yuan, Chao
  • Zhang, Xiaolin

Abstract

This paper investigates the impact of interest rate liberalization (IRL) on the procyclicality of the bank liquidity buffer based on data of 377 commercial banks in China from 2007 to 2019. The results show that the liquidity buffer is procyclical. The advancement of IRL diminishes the bank liquidity buffer and exacerbates its procyclicality. The expansion of the fluctuation level of interest rate, one dimension of IRL, is the dominant driving factor. Furthermore, this paper finds that the effect of IRL on the procyclicality of the liquidity buffer is amplified in non-primary, joint-stock, city and less-profitable banks. Additionally, the IRL has a higher negative impact on the liquidity buffer of banks that engage in greater risk-taking.

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  • Jiang, Hai & Zhu, Yunfan & Yuan, Chao & Zhang, Xiaolin, 2025. "Interest rate liberalization and the procyclicality of the bank liquidity buffer: Evidence from China," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:asieco:v:98:y:2025:i:c:s1049007825000284
    DOI: 10.1016/j.asieco.2025.101904
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