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Historical institutional determinants of financial system development in Africa

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  • EMENALO, CHUKWUNONYE O.
  • GAGLIARDI, FRANCESCA
  • HODGSON, GEOFFREY M.

Abstract

The literature on the determinants of cross-country variation in financial system development identifies historical institutional factors, mostly rooted in colonial effects, as key causes. Using a sample of 39 African former European colonies for 2006–11, this paper investigates the extent to which the historical institutional determinants identified by legal origins, disease endowment, religion-based and ethnic fractionalisation theories explain current differences in financial system development across Africa. While most existing research focuses only on one financial system development dimension, namely financial system depth, this article considers also financial system access. The results do not support any of the above theories when depth measures are used, while three of them (legal origins, disease endowment and ethnic fractionalisation theories) are validated when using access measures. This suggests that in Africa financial system depth and access do not have common historical institutional determinants, pointing to the need for greater fine tuning of prevalent theories and empirical measures.

Suggested Citation

  • Emenalo, Chukwunonye O. & Gagliardi, Francesca & Hodgson, Geoffrey M., 2018. "Historical institutional determinants of financial system development in Africa," Journal of Institutional Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 14(2), pages 345-372, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:jinsec:v:14:y:2018:i:02:p:345-372_00
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    1. Sun, Yizhong & Jin, Keyan & Wang, Deyong & Wu, Qingyang & Li, Zhezhou, 2023. "Revisiting the natural resources-financial development nexus in China: The importance of economic policy uncertainty," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(PB).
    2. Canh Phuc Nguyen & Binh Nguyen Quang & Thanh Dinh Su, 2023. "Institutional frameworks and the shadow economy: new evidence of colonial history, socialist history, religion, and legal systems," Economia e Politica Industriale: Journal of Industrial and Business Economics, Springer;Associazione Amici di Economia e Politica Industriale, vol. 50(3), pages 647-675, September.
    3. Vincent Tawiah & Raymond Ayivor & Babajide Michael Oyewo, 2024. "Who cares about corruption in Africa? China or the USA?," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 29(3), pages 2647-2664, July.
    4. Mutarindwa, Samuel & Schäfer, Dorothea & Stephan, Andreas, 2021. "Differences in African banking systems: causes and consequences," Journal of Institutional Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 17(4), pages 561-581, August.
    5. Jeleta Kebede & Vincent Tawiah & Ernest Gyapong, 2023. "The effect of corruption on microfinance loan portfolio: A semiparametric analysis," Economics of Transition and Institutional Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(1), pages 241-268, January.
    6. Asngar, Thierry Mamadou & Nkoa, Bruno Emmanuel Ongo & Zambo, Charles Christian Atangana, 2022. "Does colonisation explain the low level of growth in African financial markets?," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 46(3).
    7. Bournakis, Ioannis & Rizov, Marian & Christopoulos, Dimitris, 2021. "Revisiting the Economic Performance and Institutions Debate in SSA Countries: The Role of Legal Origins in the Context of Ethnic Heterogeneity," MPRA Paper 106557, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Bournakis, Ioannis & Rizov, Marian & Christopoulos, Dimitris, 2023. "Revisiting the effect of institutions on the economic performance of SSA countries: Do legal origins matter in the context of ethnic heterogeneity?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    9. Mutarindwa, Samuel & Schäfer, Dorothea & Stephan, Andreas, 2020. "Legal History, Institutions and Banking System Development in Africa," GLO Discussion Paper Series 444, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    10. Nazima Ellahi & Adiqa Kausar Kiani & Muhammad Awais & Hina Affandi & Rabia Saghir & Sarah Qaim, 2021. "Investigating the Institutional Determinants of Financial Development: Empirical Evidence From SAARC Countries," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(2), pages 21582440211, April.
    11. Kebede, Jeleta & Selvanathan, Saroja & Naranpanawa, Athula, 2021. "Foreign bank presence, institutional quality, and financial inclusion: Evidence from Africa," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    12. Emenalo, Chukwunonye O. & Gagliardi, Francesca, 2020. "Is current institutional quality linked to legal origins and disease endowments? Evidence from Africa," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).
    13. Luigi Aldieri & Cristian Barra & Nazzareno Ruggiero & Concetto Paolo Vinci, 2023. "Corruption and firms’ efficiency: international evidence using an instrumental variable approach," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 40(2), pages 731-759, July.
    14. Evans, Olaniyi, 2020. "Fiscal Discipline, Financial Development & Economic Growth in Nigeria," MPRA Paper 99242, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    15. Marina Nistotskaya & Michelle D'Arcy, 2021. "No taxation without property rights: Formalization of property rights on land and tax revenues from individuals in sub-Saharan Africa," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2021-175, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    16. Finocchiaro Castro ,Massimo & Guccio, Calogero, 2023. "New wine in old bottle: Exploring the Corruption-inefficiency nexus using endogenous stochastic frontier approach," EconStor Preprints 275730, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    17. Kebede, Jeleta & Naranpanawa, Athula & Selvanathan, Saroja, 2021. "Financial inclusion: Measures and applications to Africa," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 365-379.

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