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Competition and efficiency in the MENA banking region: a non-structural DEA approach

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  • Nicholas Apergis
  • Michael L. Polemis

Abstract

The goal of this article is to empirically assess the relationship between competition and efficiency in the banking sector of Middle East and North African (MENA) countries spanning the period 1997–2011. To measure the level of competition, the article estimates the non-structural indicator known as the H-statistic, while the level of bank efficiency is estimated through the nonparametric methodology of the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and the Bootstrap Data Envelopment Analysis (BDEA), respectively. The empirical results are robust under six econometric methodologies, providing sufficient evidence for the presence of a one-way (negative) Granger causality, running from efficiency to competition. The empirical findings lead to the rejection of the ‘Efficient Structure Hypothesis’, implying that increases in competition do not precede increases in cost efficiency.

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  • Nicholas Apergis & Michael L. Polemis, 2016. "Competition and efficiency in the MENA banking region: a non-structural DEA approach," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 48(54), pages 5276-5291, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:applec:v:48:y:2016:i:54:p:5276-5291
    DOI: 10.1080/00036846.2016.1176112
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    4. Halkos, George & Polemis, Michael, 2018. "Does market structure trigger efficiency? Evidence for the USA before and after the financial crisis," MPRA Paper 84511, University Library of Munich, Germany.
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    10. 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.
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    14. Jéfferson Colombo & Peter Wanke & Jorge Antunes & Abul Kalam Azad, 2022. "Unveiling endogeneity between competition and efficiency in European banks: a robust econometric-neural network approach," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 2(3), pages 1-46, March.
    15. Mansour, Rana & El Moussawi, Chawki, 2020. "Efficiency, technical progress and productivity of Arab banks: A non-parametric approach," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 191-208.
    16. Mohammed, Nafisah & Muhammad, Junaina & ismail, abdul & Jauhari, Azmafazilah Binti, 2019. "Does Efficiency Matter for Competition? A Case of Dual Banking Industry," Jurnal Ekonomi Malaysia, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, vol. 53(3), pages 163-177.
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    18. Faten Zoghlami & Yassine Bouchemia, 2021. "Competition in the banking industry, is it beneficial? Evidence from MENA region," Journal of Banking Regulation, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 22(2), pages 169-179, June.
    19. El Moussawi, Chawki & Mansour, Rana, 2022. "Competition, cost efficiency and stability of banks in the MENA region," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 143-170.
    20. Raéf Bahrini, 2017. "Efficiency Analysis of Islamic Banks in the Middle East and North Africa Region: A Bootstrap DEA Approach," IJFS, MDPI, vol. 5(1), pages 1-13, February.
    21. George E. Halkos & Michael L. Polemis, 2019. "The impact of market structure on environmental efficiency in the United States: A quantile approach," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(1), pages 127-142, January.
    22. Chun-Ying Chen & Chun-Hung Chen & Ai-Chi Hsu, 2018. "Cost Efficiency Affects Sustainable Operations," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 8(1), pages 90-92.
    23. Chaffai, Mohamed & Coccorese, Paolo, 2019. "How far away is the MENA banking system? Efficiency comparisons with international banks," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 378-395.

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