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Testing the Quiet Life Hypothesis in the African Banking Industry

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  • Simplice A. Asongu

    (University of South Africa)

  • Nicholas M. Odhiambo

    (University of South Africa)

Abstract

The Quiet Life Hypothesis (QLH) is the pursuit of less efficiency by firms. In this study, we assess if powerful banks in the African banking industry are increasing financial access. The QLH is therefore consistent with the pursuit of financial intermediation inefficiency by large banks. To investigate the hypothesis, we first estimate the Lerner index. Then, using Two Stage Least Squares, we assess the effect of the Lerner index on financial access proxied by loan price and loan quantity. The empirical evidence is based on a panel of 162 banks from 42 countries for the period 2001–2011. The findings support the QLH, although quiet life is driven by the below-median Lerner index sub-sample. Policy implications are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Simplice A. Asongu & Nicholas M. Odhiambo, 2019. "Testing the Quiet Life Hypothesis in the African Banking Industry," Journal of Industry, Competition and Trade, Springer, vol. 19(1), pages 69-82, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jincot:v:19:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1007_s10842-018-0278-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s10842-018-0278-3
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    Cited by:

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    3. Simplice A. Asongu & Nicholas M. Odhiambo, 2022. "Mobile technology supply factors and mobile money innovation: thresholds for complementary policies," Journal of Banking Regulation, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 23(3), pages 288-301, September.
    4. Simplice A. Asongu & Nicholas M. Odhiambo, 2019. "Size, efficiency, market power, and economies of scale in the African banking sector," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 5(1), pages 1-22, December.
    5. Simplice A. Asongu & Emeride F. Kayo & Vanessa S. Tchamyou & Therese E. Zogo, 2024. "Banking concentration, information sharing and women's political empowerment in developing countries," Working Papers 24/028, European Xtramile Centre of African Studies (EXCAS).
    6. Simplice A. Asongu, Phd & Joseph Nnanna D.B.A, . "Ict In Reducing Information Asymmmetry For Financial Sector Competition," Journal of Economic and Sustainable Growth 1, Office Of The Chief Economist, Development Bank of Nigeria.
    7. Simplice Asongu & Rexon Nting & Joseph Nnanna, 2020. "Market power and cost efficiency in the African banking industry," Journal of Economic Studies, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 47(6), pages 1247-1264, May.
    8. Chatjuthamard, Pattanaporn & Jiraporn, Pornsit & Lee, Sang Mook & Sarajoti, Pattarake, 2024. "Customer concentration, managerial risk aversion, and hostile takeover threats," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 268-279.
    9. Takakorn Likitapiwat & Sirimon Treepongkaruna & Pornsit Jiraporn, 2023. "CSR variability, managerial risk aversion, and hostile takeover threats," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(2), pages 773-790, March.
    10. Treepongkaruna, Sirimon & Kyaw, Khine & Jiraporn, Pornsit, 2022. "Shareholder litigation rights and ESG controversies: A quasi-natural experiment," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    11. Simplice A. Asongu & Nicholas M. Odhiambo, 2023. "Bank accounts, bank concentration and mobile money innovations," Working Papers 23/019, European Xtramile Centre of African Studies (EXCAS).
    12. Moses Nyangu & Nyankomo Marwa & Ashenafi Fanta & Latacz-Lohmann Uwe, 2022. "The Dynamics of Bank Concentration, Competition and Efficiency in the East African Community," Journal of Industry, Competition and Trade, Springer, vol. 22(1), pages 21-49, March.
    13. Tamini, Arnaud & Petey, Joël, 2021. "Hoarding of reserves in the banking industry: Explaining the African paradox," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 214-225.
    14. Fukuyama, Hirofumi & Tsionas, Mike & Tan, Yong, 2024. "The impacts of innovation and trade openness on bank market power: The proposal of a minimum distance cost function approach and a causal structure analysis," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 312(3), pages 1178-1194.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Financial access; Bank performance; Africa;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D40 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - General
    • G20 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - General
    • G29 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Other
    • L10 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - General
    • O55 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Africa

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