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Rational Cost Inefficiency in Chinese Banks

Author

Listed:
  • Kent Matthews

    (Cardiff University, Hong Kong Institute for Monetary Research)

  • Zhiguo Xiao

    (Fudan University,)

  • Xu Zhang

    (Citigroup (China), Cardiff University)

Abstract

According to a frequently cited finding by Berger et al (1993), X-inefficiency contributes 20% to cost-inefficiency in western banks. Empirical studies of Chinese banks tend to place cost-inefficiency in the region of 50%. Such estimates would suggest that Chinese banks suffer from gross cost inefficiency. Using a non-parametric bootstrapping method, this study decomposes cost-inefficiency in Chinese banks into X-inefficiency and allocative-inefficiency. It argues that allocative inefficiency is the optimal outcome of input resource allocation subject to enforced employment constraints. The resulting analysis suggests that allowing for rational allocative inefficiency; Chinese banks are no better or worse than their western counterparts.

Suggested Citation

  • Kent Matthews & Zhiguo Xiao & Xu Zhang, 2009. "Rational Cost Inefficiency in Chinese Banks," Working Papers 292009, Hong Kong Institute for Monetary Research.
  • Handle: RePEc:hkm:wpaper:292009
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Zhaoxin Dai & Yunfeng Hu & Guanhua Zhao, 2017. "The Suitability of Different Nighttime Light Data for GDP Estimation at Different Spatial Scales and Regional Levels," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-15, February.
    3. Mihăiță-Cosmin M. POPOVICI, 2013. "A Survey On Bank Efficiency Research With Data Envelopment Analysis And Stochastic Frontier Analysis," SEA - Practical Application of Science, Romanian Foundation for Business Intelligence, Editorial Department, issue 1, pages 134-142, June.
    4. Bing Xu & Adrian Van Rixtel & Michiel Van Leuvensteijn, 2013. "Measuring bank competition in China: a comparison of new versus conventional approaches applied to loan markets," BIS Working Papers 422, Bank for International Settlements.
    5. repec:zbw:bofitp:2010_020 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Pessarossi, Pierre & Godlewski, Christophe J. & Weill, Laurent, 2010. "Foreign bank lending and information asymmetries in China," BOFIT Discussion Papers 20/2010, Bank of Finland, Institute for Economies in Transition.
    7. repec:cmj:journl:y:2013:i:27:popovicimc is not listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Bank Efficiency; China; X-inefficiency; DEA; Bootstrapping;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D23 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Organizational Behavior; Transaction Costs; Property Rights
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • G28 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Government Policy and Regulation

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