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On measuring concentration in banking systems

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  • Alegria, Carlos
  • Schaeck, Klaus

Abstract

Assuming a Pareto-type distribution of bank sizes, we investigate the effect of changes in Zipf's exponent ([alpha]) and the sample size on the behavior of different concentration indices, such as the 3-bank concentration ratio, the Herfindahl-Hirschman index and the top 5%-concentration ratio. We derive analytical relations between these concentration indices and investigate the elasticity of these indices to changes in [alpha] and in the sample size N. We show different regimes under which each index can be used most appropriately. Our results are highly relevant for policymakers who rely on such concentration measures to derive public policy recommendations in banking.

Suggested Citation

  • Alegria, Carlos & Schaeck, Klaus, 2008. "On measuring concentration in banking systems," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 5(1), pages 59-67, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:finlet:v:5:y:2008:i:1:p:59-67
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    1. Maurizio Naldi & Marta Flamini, 2014. "The CR4 index and the interval estimation of the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index: an empirical comparison," Working Papers hal-01008144, HAL.
    2. Martin CIHAK, 2007. "Systemic Loss: A Measure of Financial Stability (in English)," Czech Journal of Economics and Finance (Finance a uver), Charles University Prague, Faculty of Social Sciences, vol. 57(1-2), pages 5-26, March.
    3. Karadima, Maria & Louri, Helen, 2021. "Economic policy uncertainty and non-performing loans: The moderating role of bank concentration," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 38(C).
    4. Maurizio Naldi & Marta Flamini, 2018. "Dynamics of the Hirschman–Herfindahl Index under New Market Entries," Economic Papers, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 37(3), pages 344-362, September.
    5. Allen N. Berger & Leora F. Klapper & Rima Turk-Ariss, 2017. "Bank competition and financial stability," Chapters, in: Jacob A. Bikker & Laura Spierdijk (ed.), Handbook of Competition in Banking and Finance, chapter 10, pages 185-204, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    6. Guidara, Alaa & Lai, Van Son & Soumaré, Issouf & Tchana, Fulbert Tchana, 2013. "Banks’ capital buffer, risk and performance in the Canadian banking system: Impact of business cycles and regulatory changes," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 37(9), pages 3373-3387.
    7. Huang, Tai-Hsin & Hu, Chu-Nan & Chang, Bao-Guang, 2018. "Competition, efficiency, and innovation in Taiwan’s banking industry — An application of copula methods," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 362-375.
    8. Nguyen, My & Skully, Michael & Perera, Shrimal, 2012. "Bank market power and revenue diversification: Evidence from selected ASEAN countries," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 23(6), pages 688-700.
    9. Tai-Hsin Huang & Nan-Hung Liu & Subal C. Kumbhakar, 2018. "Joint estimation of the Lerner index and cost efficiency using copula methods," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 54(2), pages 799-822, March.
    10. Gazilas, Emmanouil Taxiarchis & Vozikis, Athanassios, 2023. "An Empirical Analysis on the Impact of Market Concentration on the Financial Performance of General Private Clinics in Greece," MPRA Paper 121234, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    11. Marieke Huysentruyt & Eva Lefevere & Carlo Menon, 2010. "Bank Location and Financial Liberalization Reforms: Evidence from Microgeographic Data," SERC Discussion Papers 0058, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    12. Maurizio Naldi & Marta Flamini, 2017. "Censoring and Distortion in the Hirschman–Herfindahl Index Computation," Economic Papers, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 36(4), pages 401-415, December.
    13. Kęstutis Peleckis, 2021. "Application of the DEMATEL Model for Assessing IT Sector’s Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-14, December.
    14. Tomson Ogwang, 2011. "Power laws in top wealth distributions: evidence from Canada," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 41(2), pages 473-486, October.
    15. Tai-Hsin Huang & Nan-Hung Liu, 2014. "Bank competition in transition countries: Are those markets really in equilibrium?," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 47(4), pages 1283-1316, December.
    16. Nowakowski Marcin & Karasiewicz Grzegorz, 2016. "Market Structure and Price-Cost Margins in European Retail Gasoline Industry," Journal of Management and Business Administration. Central Europe, Sciendo, vol. 24(3), pages 105-124, September.
    17. Huang, Tai-Hsin & Chiang, Dien-Lin & Chao, Shih-Wei, 2017. "A new approach to jointly estimating the Lerner index and cost efficiency for multi-output banks under a stochastic meta-frontier framework," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 212-226.
    18. Nguyen, My & Perera, Shrimal & Skully, Michael, 2016. "Bank market power, ownership, regional presence and revenue diversification: Evidence from Africa," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 27(C), pages 36-62.

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