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Corporate governance and the systemic risk of financial institutions

Author

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  • Iqbal, Jamshed
  • Strobl, Sascha
  • Vähämaa, Sami

Abstract

This paper studies the relationship between corporate governance and the systemic risk of financial institutions. Specifically, using a sample of large U.S. financial institutions from 2005 to 2010, we examine whether the strength of corporate governance mechanisms can explain the cross-sectional variation in systemic risk around the recent financial crisis. Our empirical findings indicate that financial institutions with stronger and more shareholder-focused corporate governance structures and boards of directors are associated with higher levels of systemic risk. Thus, our results suggest that good corporate governance may encourage rather than constrain excessive risk-taking in the financial industry.

Suggested Citation

  • Iqbal, Jamshed & Strobl, Sascha & Vähämaa, Sami, 2015. "Corporate governance and the systemic risk of financial institutions," Journal of Economics and Business, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 42-61.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jebusi:v:82:y:2015:i:c:p:42-61
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jeconbus.2015.06.001
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    Cited by:

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    3. Gaganis, Chrysovalantis & Lozano-Vivas, Ana & Papadimitri, Panagiota & Pasiouras, Fotios, 2020. "Macroprudential policies, corporate governance and bank risk: Cross-country evidence," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 126-142.
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    8. Dupire, Marion & Slagmulder, Regine, 2019. "Risk governance of financial institutions: The effect of ownership structure and board independence," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 28(C), pages 227-237.
    9. Marion Dupire & Christian Haddad & Regine Slagmulder, 2022. "The Importance of Board Risk Oversight in Times of Crisis," Journal of Financial Services Research, Springer;Western Finance Association, vol. 61(3), pages 319-365, June.
    10. Cucinelli, Doriana & Soana, Maria Gaia, 2023. "Systemic risk in non financial companies: Does governance matter?," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    11. Alin Marius Andrieş & Simona Nistor, 2018. "Systemic Risk and Foreign Currency Positions of Banks: Evidence from Emerging Europe," Eastern European Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 56(5), pages 382-421, September.
    12. Kleinow, Jacob & Moreira, Fernando & Strobl, Sascha & Vähämaa, Sami, 2017. "Measuring systemic risk: A comparison of alternative market-based approaches," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 21(C), pages 40-46.
    13. Ilyes Abidi & Mariem Nsaibi & Khaled Hussainey, 2022. "Does Ownership Structure Moderate the Relationship between Systemic Risk and Corporate Governance? Evidence from Gulf Cooperation Council Countries," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-17, May.
    14. Andrieş, Alin Marius & Nistor, Simona, 2016. "Systemic risk, corporate governance and regulation of banks across emerging countries," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 59-63.
    15. Israr Khan & Mansi Wang, 2021. "Evaluating Corporate Performance and Bank Productivity in China: The Moderating Role of Independent Directors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-13, March.
    16. Jamshed Iqbal & Sami Vähämaa, 2019. "Managerial risk-taking incentives and the systemic risk of financial institutions," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 53(4), pages 1229-1258, November.
    17. Renata Karkowska & Jan Acedański, 2020. "The effect of corporate board attributes on bank stability," Portuguese Economic Journal, Springer;Instituto Superior de Economia e Gestao, vol. 19(2), pages 99-137, May.
    18. Ayoola Tajudeen John & Obokoh Lawrence Ogechukwu, 2018. "Corporate Governance and Financial Distress in the Banking Industry: Nigerian Experience," Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, AMH International, vol. 10(1), pages 182-193.
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    20. Trabelsi, Nader & Naifar, Nader, 2017. "Are Islamic stock indexes exposed to systemic risk? Multivariate GARCH estimation of CoVaR," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 727-744.
    21. Addo, Kwabena Aboah & Hussain, Nazim & Iqbal, Jamshed, 2021. "Corporate Governance and Banking Systemic Risk: A Test of the Bundling Hypothesis," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Corporate governance; Boards; Systemic risk; Bank risk-taking; Financial crisis;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G01 - Financial Economics - - General - - - Financial Crises
    • G20 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - General
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance

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