Structure of banking industry and firms' risk-taking: firm-level evidence from China

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to explore the possible impact of banking market structure on the idiosyncratic risk of financially dependent firms in China. Design/methodology/approach - The study analyzes firm-level data for China from 1999 to 2018 using a two-step dynamic panel system generalized method of moments (GMM). Findings - The findings imply that bank competition lowers corporate risk, particularly among firms that are highly dependent on external funding for their financing needs. The findings are consistent with alternative indicators of competition, corporate risk, and financial dependence. The analysis of the transmission mechanism – the channel through which competition affects corporate risk – reveals that bank competition reduces corporate risk by curtailing financing constraints faced by firms. Research limitations/implications - The competition-enhancing policy should consider the optimum level of bank competition for financial and economic stability. Further research is necessary to define the “desirable” or “optimum” level of bank competition. Practical implications - In China, where the banking sector is still highly concentrated, the findings of this study call for policies aimed at encouraging healthy competition among banks. Nevertheless, such a policy must also consider the extent of bank competition that is optimal for the economy, particularly for financial and economic stability. Originality/value - The paper provides the first evidence of the possible linkage between bank competition and corporate risk in China.