Refurbished Institutional Quality and Good Governance for Bank Stability: A Meta-Analysis of Emerging Economies

In an increasingly volatile global financial environment, strong institutions and sound governance are essential for safeguarding banking stability and mitigating systemic risks in emerging economies. Across the 11 emerging economies examined, weaknesses in institutional quality and inconsistencies in governance frameworks continue to elevate credit risk and undermine financial resilience. This study investigates the effects of institutional quality (IQ) and corporate governance (CGG) on bank stability, drawing on the Financial Stability and Risk Management (FSRM) theory, which highlights robust institutions, effective risk oversight, and sound governance as core determinants of financial system strength. Using dynamic panel data from 2011–2024, the study applies the generalized method of moments (GMM) approach to assess bank performance through non-performing loans (NPLs) and Z-Score as key dependent variables. The model incorporates IQ, CGG, bank-specific characteristics (bank assets, capital adequacy, cost-to-income ratio), and macroeconomic indicators (GDP, inflation, exchange rate, real interest rate) as explanatory factors, addressing endogeneity, unobserved heterogeneity, and persistence in banking outcomes. The results reveal strong persistence in NPLs (lag = 0.965, p < 0.01) and Z-Score (lag = 0.920, p < 0.01), indicating notable path dependence in bank performance. Institutional quality significantly enhances bank stability (Z-Score coefficient = 0.073, p = 0.040), while BA shows a negative but insignificant effect (coefficient = 0.005, p = 0.432), implying that rapid asset growth without prudent risk management may weaken resilience. CGG shows negative but insignificant effects, while macroeconomic factors also appear insignificant, indicating limited short-term impact. Countries with stronger institutions, such as South Korea, display lower NPLs and higher stability, whereas weaker institutional environments like Iran, Pakistan, and Bangladesh face higher credit risk and reduced stability. Overall, the study highlights IQ and prudent balance sheet management as key to stronger bank stability, urging policymakers to reinforce institutional frameworks, tighten regulatory discipline, and ensure controlled asset growth to reduce systemic vulnerabilities.