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Corporate governance and the systemic risk of financial institutions

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  • Iqbal, Jamshed
  • Strobl, Sascha
  • Vähämaa, Sami

Abstract

This paper studies the relationship between corporate governance and the systemic risk of financial institutions. Specifically, using a sample of large U.S. financial institutions from 2005 to 2010, we examine whether the strength of corporate governance mechanisms can explain the cross-sectional variation in systemic risk around the recent financial crisis. Our empirical findings indicate that financial institutions with stronger and more shareholder-focused corporate governance structures and boards of directors are associated with higher levels of systemic risk. Thus, our results suggest that good corporate governance may encourage rather than constrain excessive risk-taking in the financial industry.

Suggested Citation

  • Iqbal, Jamshed & Strobl, Sascha & Vähämaa, Sami, 2015. "Corporate governance and the systemic risk of financial institutions," Journal of Economics and Business, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 42-61.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jebusi:v:82:y:2015:i:c:p:42-61
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jeconbus.2015.06.001
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    9. Ilyes Abidi & Mariem Nsaibi & Khaled Hussainey, 2022. "Does Ownership Structure Moderate the Relationship between Systemic Risk and Corporate Governance? Evidence from Gulf Cooperation Council Countries," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-17, May.
    10. Renata Karkowska & Jan Acedański, 2020. "The effect of corporate board attributes on bank stability," Portuguese Economic Journal, Springer;Instituto Superior de Economia e Gestao, vol. 19(2), pages 99-137, May.
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    12. Trabelsi, Nader & Naifar, Nader, 2017. "Are Islamic stock indexes exposed to systemic risk? Multivariate GARCH estimation of CoVaR," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 727-744.
    13. Addo, Kwabena Aboah & Hussain, Nazim & Iqbal, Jamshed, 2021. "Corporate Governance and Banking Systemic Risk: A Test of the Bundling Hypothesis," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    14. Li, Xintong & Rehman, Awais Ur & Toma, Smaranda & Jaradat, Mohammad & Lv, Xinyu & Mihai, Daniela Melania & Spinu, Adina Eleonora & Shabbir, Malik Shahzad, 2024. "Does corporate social sustainability influence on business environment? Impact of corporate governance on distance to default of Sukuk issuers in Islamic banks," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 93(PA), pages 520-528.
    15. Lee, Chien-Chiang & Wang, Yurong & Zhang, Xiaoming, 2023. "Corporate governance and systemic risk: Evidence from Chinese-listed banks," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 180-202.
    16. Rajat Deb, 2021. "YES Bank fiasco: a corporate governance failure," DECISION: Official Journal of the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, Springer;Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, vol. 48(2), pages 181-190, June.
    17. Dupire, Marion & Slagmulder, Regine, 2019. "Risk governance of financial institutions: The effect of ownership structure and board independence," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 28(C), pages 227-237.
    18. Cucinelli, Doriana & Soana, Maria Gaia, 2023. "Systemic risk in non financial companies: Does governance matter?," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    19. Kleinow, Jacob & Moreira, Fernando & Strobl, Sascha & Vähämaa, Sami, 2017. "Measuring systemic risk: A comparison of alternative market-based approaches," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 21(C), pages 40-46.
    20. Saghi, Nadia & Srour, Zainab & Viviani, Jean-Laurent & Jezzini, Mohamad, 2023. "Systemic risk in European banks: Does ownership structure matter?," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 88-111.
    21. Andrieş, Alin Marius & Nistor, Simona, 2016. "Systemic risk, corporate governance and regulation of banks across emerging countries," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 59-63.
    22. Israr Khan & Mansi Wang, 2021. "Evaluating Corporate Performance and Bank Productivity in China: The Moderating Role of Independent Directors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-13, March.
    23. Jamshed Iqbal & Sami Vähämaa, 2019. "Managerial risk-taking incentives and the systemic risk of financial institutions," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 53(4), pages 1229-1258, November.
    24. Ayoola Tajudeen John & Obokoh Lawrence Ogechukwu, 2018. "Corporate Governance and Financial Distress in the Banking Industry: Nigerian Experience," Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, AMH International, vol. 10(1), pages 182-193.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Corporate governance; Boards; Systemic risk; Bank risk-taking; Financial crisis;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G01 - Financial Economics - - General - - - Financial Crises
    • G20 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - General
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G34 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Mergers; Acquisitions; Restructuring; Corporate Governance

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