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Competition and Stability in the European Union Banking Sector

Author

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  • Cândida Ferreira

    (ISEG, UL Lisbon School of Economics and Management of the Universidade de Lisboa
    UECE Research Unit in Complexity and Economics
    REM Research in Economics and Mathematics)

Abstract

This paper empirically tests the two competing hypotheses regarding the relationship between competition and stability: the competition-fragility hypothesis and the competition-stability hypothesis. The banking sector stability is proxied with the estimated Z-score, which provides a measure of overall bank stability. Two different measures are used to represent bank competition: the Herfindahl–Hirschman Index (a specific measure of market concentration) and the Boone indicator (which measures competition from an efficiency perspective). Using data from the Moody’s Analytics BankFocus database and the World Bank Global Financial Development database, the paper applies panel estimations to a relatively large panel, including 784 relevant banks from all 27 European Union countries, between 2006 and 2021. The main findings overall confirm the validity of the competition-fragility hypothesis. Moreover, the results obtained for two specific European Union countries, Germany and France, highlight some specific differences, particularly regarding the effects of bank market concentration and the responses to the crises that affected the European Union banking institutions over the considered period. The findings of this paper reinforce the relevance of the policy maker’s role and indicate, for example, that bank market competition in the European Union is probably already sufficiently high and should not be reinforced, as overall, the increase in bank competition seems detrimental to the stability of European Union banking institutions.

Suggested Citation

  • Cândida Ferreira, 2023. "Competition and Stability in the European Union Banking Sector," International Advances in Economic Research, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 29(4), pages 207-224, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:iaecre:v:29:y:2023:i:4:d:10.1007_s11294-023-09880-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s11294-023-09880-z
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Bank stability: bank competition; Z-score; Herfindahl–Hirschman Index; Boone indicator; European Union banking sector;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C33 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Multiple or Simultaneous Equation Models; Multiple Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • D53 - Microeconomics - - General Equilibrium and Disequilibrium - - - Financial Markets
    • F36 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Financial Aspects of Economic Integration
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages

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