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Spatial competition and market power in banking

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  • Richards, Timothy J.
  • Acharya, Ram N.
  • Kagan, Albert

Abstract

Banks in non-metropolitan areas compete in a spatially differentiated environment. Non-metro community banks have been insulated from increasing competition from metro banks due to their reliance on soft information in relationship lending. Proximity to borrowers, therefore, may be an important source of market power for non-metro community banks. This paper estimates a structural model of the supply and demand of banking services in which pricing power is allowed to depend explicitly on the distance between rival banks. A spatial autoregressive econometric model shows that approximately 38.0% of economic surplus earned by firms in non-metropolitan banking in the upper midwest is due to spatial market power.

Suggested Citation

  • Richards, Timothy J. & Acharya, Ram N. & Kagan, Albert, 2008. "Spatial competition and market power in banking," Journal of Economics and Business, Elsevier, vol. 60(5), pages 436-454.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jebusi:v:60:y:2008:i:5:p:436-454
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    6. Acharya, Ram N. & Kagan, Albert & Richards, Timothy J., 2006. "Profitability and Long-term Survival of Community Banks: Evidence from Texas," 2006 Annual meeting, July 23-26, Long Beach, CA 21453, American Agricultural Economics Association (New Name 2008: Agricultural and Applied Economics Association).
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Banking Market power Non-metropolitan markets Spatial econometrics;

    JEL classification:

    • C21 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models
    • D43 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Oligopoly and Other Forms of Market Imperfection
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • L13 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Oligopoly and Other Imperfect Markets

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