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Do political connections affect bank leverage? Evidence from some Middle Eastern and North African countries

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  • Rihem Braham

    (University of Sousse)

  • Christian Peretti

    (Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1)

  • Lotfi Belkacem

    (University of Sousse)

Abstract

This study examines the association between political patronage and bank financing decisions in a sample of 34 commercial banks operating in the Middle East and North Africa for the period 2003–2014. We collected information manually about the profiles and biographies of individuals on the boards of banks to identify which banks had political connections, which is the novel contribution of the study. Linear and nonlinear panel data analysis was used to investigate this relationship. The results reveal that politically backed banks tend to be more leveraged. The indirect effect of political patronage on leverage was not found to be large, but was significant through its interaction with profitability; that is, politically backed banks with higher profitability are positively associated with leverage. Our findings imply that the privileges resulting from political ties make banks more profitable, and that this also leads to higher leverage. In line with the related literature, we found that a strong political presence on the boards of banks can be considered an important intangible asset, and one of the factors driving bank financing decisions.

Suggested Citation

  • Rihem Braham & Christian Peretti & Lotfi Belkacem, 2019. "Do political connections affect bank leverage? Evidence from some Middle Eastern and North African countries," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 23(4), pages 989-1006, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:kap:jmgtgv:v:23:y:2019:i:4:d:10.1007_s10997-019-09478-w
    DOI: 10.1007/s10997-019-09478-w
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    Cited by:

    1. Rihem Braham & Christian Peretti & Lotfi Belkacem, 2022. "On the Measurement and Extent of Banks’ Political Connection in the Middle East and North Africa Region," Comparative Economic Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Association for Comparative Economic Studies, vol. 64(4), pages 606-645, December.
    2. Braham, Rihem & de Peretti, Christian & Belkacem, Lotfi, 2023. "Political patronage and banks’ leverage in the Middle Eastern and North African region: A new neural panel regression analysis," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 298-306.
    3. Braham, Rihem & de Peretti, Christian & Belkacem, Lotfi, 2020. "The role of political patronage in the risk-taking behaviour of banks in the Middle East and North Africa," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
    4. Ameni Tarchouna & Bilel Jarraya & Abdelfettah Bouri, 2022. "Do board characteristics and ownership structure matter for bank non-performing loans? Empirical evidence from US commercial banks," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 26(2), pages 479-518, June.
    5. Rihem Braham & Lotfi Belkacem & Christian de Peretti, 2018. "The role of political patronage on risk-taking behavior of banks in Middle East and North Africa region," Working Papers hal-01762523, HAL.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Political patronage; Leverage; Indirect effect; Panel data; Commercial banks;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G38 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • P1 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Capitalist Economies

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