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Bank runs and media freedom: What you don’t know won’t hurt you?

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  • Semenova, Maria
  • Sokolov, Vladimir
  • Benov, Alexander

Abstract

This paper examines the influence of media freedom restrictions on retail depositor behavior during banking crises. Non-professional, retail depositors are particularly affected due to insufficient access to vital information about the banking industry's vulnerability and broad macroeconomic conditions amidst the crisis. Using data from 85 countries from 2004 to 2019, we found that during crises, higher media restrictions lead to an increase in the rate of household deposit withdrawals. If media restrictions hinder depositors from accurately assessing the banking sector’s exposure, there is a higher likelihood of panic-based response in uncertain times brought on by the banking crisis, potentially triggering bank runs. Furthermore, our results reveal that lower banking sector risk can mitigate the negative effect of media restrictions on retail deposit growth during a banking crisis, especially in middle-income OECD and non-OECD countries, countries with stronger institutional environments, and countries with higher financial literacy. As a policy suggestion, promoting financial literacy could help reduce information asymmetry and prevent panic withdrawals, even in environments with significant media restrictions.

Suggested Citation

  • Semenova, Maria & Sokolov, Vladimir & Benov, Alexander, 2024. "Bank runs and media freedom: What you don’t know won’t hurt you?," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:finsta:v:74:y:2024:i:c:s1572308924001086
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jfs.2024.101323
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Media freedom; Bank runs; Crisis; Market discipline; Retail deposit withdrawals;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • 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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