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Banking efficiency and its determinants in selected frontier african markets

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  • Roland Banya

    (University of Cape Town)

  • Nicholas Biekpe

    (University of Cape Town)

Abstract

The degree of banking efficiency is of key importance as this has significant implication on the stability of financial systems and ultimately impacts on an economy. In this paper, we extend the existing literature by measuring the degree of bank efficiency in ten frontier African countries. We also attempt to analyse the determinants of banking efficiency in the sample countries. We employ a bank-level panel data set over the period 2008–2012 to measure banking efficiency in a two-stage procedure. In the first stage, we use the Data Envelopment Analysis technique to estimate technical, pure technical and scale bank efficiency. In the second stage, we use Simar and Wilson (J Econom 136:31–64, 2007) truncated bootstrapping approach to analyse the determinants of banking efficiency. The results of our analysis show that, to a greater extent, banks in the countries studied have efficient banking sectors. The results of truncated regression indicate that bank size is negatively related to banking sector efficiency while the degree of risk is positively related bank efficiency. Overall, the present study provides empirical information that may be used to guide future financial reform policies in the Frontier African countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Roland Banya & Nicholas Biekpe, 2018. "Banking efficiency and its determinants in selected frontier african markets," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 51(1), pages 69-95, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:ecopln:v:51:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1007_s10644-016-9200-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s10644-016-9200-3
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    7. Fontin, Jean-Raymond & Lin, Shi-Woei, 2019. "Comparison of banking innovation in low-income countries: A meta-frontier approach," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 198-207.
    8. Cândida Ferreira, 2020. "Evaluating European Bank Efficiency Using Data Envelopment Analysis: Evidence in the Aftermath of the Recent Financial Crisis," International Advances in Economic Research, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 26(4), pages 391-405, November.
    9. Abayomi Oredegbe, 2021. "Cost Efficiency Determinants: Evidence from the Canadian Banking Industry," International Journal of Business and Management, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 15(1), pages 1-86, July.
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    11. Hussien Mohsen Ahmed & Sherif Ismail El-Halaby & Hebatallah Ahmed Soliman, 2022. "The consequence of the credit risk on the financial performance in light of COVID-19: Evidence from Islamic versus conventional banks across MEA region," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 8(1), pages 1-22, December.
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    13. Clement Olalekan Olaniyi & Titus Ayobami Ojeyinka & Xuan Vinh Vo & Mamdouh Abdulaziz Saleh Al‐Faryan, 2023. "Do business strategies vary across firms in the banking industry? New perspectives from the bank size–profitability nexus," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 44(1), pages 525-544, January.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Bank; Efficiency determinants; DEA; Bootstrap;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C14 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Semiparametric and Nonparametric Methods: General
    • D21 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Theory
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • N27 - Economic History - - Financial Markets and Institutions - - - Africa; Oceania

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