IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/snbeco/v2y2022i7d10.1007_s43546-022-00250-1.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Competition and bank risk-taking in Sub-Saharan Africa countries

Author

Listed:
  • Douglas A. Adu

    (Teesside University International Business School, Teesside University
    Huddersfield Business School, University of Huddersfield)

Abstract

The last 3 decades have witnessed a growing trend of financial sector liberalization in countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, along with increased competition in the banking sector. Accordingly, this paper investigates the effect of competition on banks’ risk-taking in the Sub-Saharan Africa region. The topic is considered to be of significant importance due to the recent banking crisis in the region. The study tests the hypothesis that intense competition in the banking sector positively impacts the risk-taking behaviour of banks in the countries. Using a sample of 220 banks in 16 Sub-Saharan Africa countries from 2007 to 2018, the paper sheds insight on the impact of competition, measured by Lerner index and H-statistics on bank risk-taking, measured by Z-score, non-performing loans, loan-loss provision, and capital adequacy ratio. Results estimated through the two-step system generalized method of moments (GMM) and two-stage least-squares (2SLS) techniques indicate that intense competition measured by Lerner index exacerbates bank risk-taking in the region as measured by Z-score, non-performing loans, loan-loss provision, and capital adequacy ratio. Furthermore, the study finds an increase in competition measured by H-statistics is associated with an increase in risk-taking measured by Z-score, non-performing loans, and loan-loss provision. The results of the study suggest that H-statistics has no significant influence on the capital adequacy ratio of the banks. Bank-specific and macroeconomic variables appear to have influence on bank risk-taking in the region. The results are robust to controlling for alternative measures, governance mechanisms, and endogeneities. Overall, the results of the study show that intense competition in the regions’ banking system increases the risky behaviour of banks, confirming the competition-fragility view. The findings of the study have key policy implications for regulators, policymakers, and banking practitioners in the Sub-Saharan Africa countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Douglas A. Adu, 2022. "Competition and bank risk-taking in Sub-Saharan Africa countries," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 2(7), pages 1-26, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:snbeco:v:2:y:2022:i:7:d:10.1007_s43546-022-00250-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s43546-022-00250-1
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s43546-022-00250-1
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s43546-022-00250-1?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Joseph Olorunfemi Akande & Farai Kwenda & Dimu Ehalaiye, 2018. "Competition and commercial banks risk-taking: evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa region," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(44), pages 4774-4787, September.
    2. Beck, Thorsten & De Jonghe, Olivier & Schepens, Glenn, 2013. "Bank competition and stability: Cross-country heterogeneity," Journal of Financial Intermediation, Elsevier, vol. 22(2), pages 218-244.
    3. Leroy, Aurélien & Lucotte, Yannick, 2017. "Is there a competition-stability trade-off in European banking?," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 199-215.
    4. Wilko Bolt & Alexander F. Tieman, 2004. "Banking Competition, Risk and Regulation," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 106(4), pages 783-804, December.
    5. Chan, Yuk-Shee & Greenbaum, Stuart I. & Thakor, Anjan V., 1986. "Information reusability, competition and bank asset quality," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 10(2), pages 243-253, June.
    6. Agoraki, Maria-Eleni K. & Delis, Manthos D. & Pasiouras, Fotios, 2011. "Regulations, competition and bank risk-taking in transition countries," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 7(1), pages 38-48, January.
    7. Manthos D. Delis & Sotirios Kokas & Steven Ongena, 2016. "Foreign Ownership and Market Power in Banking: Evidence from a World Sample," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 48(2-3), pages 449-483, March.
    8. Douglas A. Adu, 2022. "Sustainable banking initiatives, environmental disclosure and financial performance: The moderating impact of corporate governance mechanisms," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(5), pages 2365-2399, July.
    9. Mr. Montfort Mlachila & Ahmat Jidoud & Ms. Monique Newiak & Bozena Radzewicz-Bak & Ms. Misa Takebe, 2016. "Financial Development in Sub-Saharan Africa: Promoting Inclusive and Sustainable Growth," IMF Departmental Papers / Policy Papers 2016/011, International Monetary Fund.
    10. Thi H.H. Nguyen & Mohamed H. Elmagrhi & Collins G. Ntim & Yue Wu, 2021. "Environmental performance, sustainability, governance and financial performance: Evidence from heavily polluting industries in China," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(5), pages 2313-2331, July.
    11. Florian LEON, 2014. "Measuring competition in banking: A critical review of methods," Working Papers 201412, CERDI.
    12. Blundell, Richard & Bond, Stephen, 1998. "Initial conditions and moment restrictions in dynamic panel data models," Journal of Econometrics, Elsevier, vol. 87(1), pages 115-143, August.
    13. Jeon, Bang Nam & Olivero, María Pía & Wu, Ji, 2011. "Do foreign banks increase competition? Evidence from emerging Asian and Latin American banking markets," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 35(4), pages 856-875, April.
    14. Lassoued, Naima & Sassi, Houda & Ben Rejeb Attia, Mouna, 2016. "The impact of state and foreign ownership on banking risk: Evidence from the MENA countries," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 167-178.
    15. Mr. Martin Cihak & Simon Wolfe & Mr. Klaus Schaeck, 2006. "Are More Competitive Banking Systems More Stable?," IMF Working Papers 2006/143, International Monetary Fund.
    16. David Martinez-Miera & Rafael Repullo, 2010. "Does Competition Reduce the Risk of Bank Failure?," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 23(10), pages 3638-3664, October.
    17. Allen, Franklin & Gale, Douglas, 2004. "Competition and Financial Stability," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 36(3), pages 453-480, June.
    18. Anginer, Deniz & Demirguc-Kunt, Asli & Zhu, Min, 2014. "How does competition affect bank systemic risk?," Journal of Financial Intermediation, Elsevier, vol. 23(1), pages 1-26.
    19. Juan Carlos Cuestas & Yannick Lucotte & Nicolas Reigl, 2020. "Banking sector concentration, competition and financial stability: the case of the Baltic countries," Post-Communist Economies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 32(2), pages 215-249, February.
    20. Aurélien Leroy & Yannick Lucotte, 2017. "Is there a competition-stability trade-off in European banking?," Post-Print hal-03529909, HAL.
    21. Fosu, Samuel & Ntim, Collins G. & Coffie, William & Murinde, Victor, 2017. "Bank opacity and risk-taking: Evidence from analysts’ forecasts," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 81-95.
    22. 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.
    23. Jiménez, Gabriel & Lopez, Jose A. & Saurina, Jesús, 2013. "How does competition affect bank risk-taking?," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 9(2), pages 185-195.
    24. Xiaoqing Maggie Fu & Yongjia Rebecca Lin & Philip Molyneux, 2015. "Bank Competition and Financial Stability in Asia Pacific," Palgrave Macmillan Studies in Banking and Financial Institutions, in: Bank Competition, Efficiency and Liquidity Creation in Asia Pacific, chapter 3, pages 49-71, Palgrave Macmillan.
    25. Hong Liu & John O.S. Wilson, 2013. "Competition and risk in Japanese banking," The European Journal of Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 19(1), pages 1-18, January.
    26. Robert Marquez, 2002. "Competition, Adverse Selection, and Information Dispersion in the Banking Industry," The Review of Financial Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 15(3), pages 901-926.
    27. Tabak, Benjamin M. & Gomes, Guilherme M.R. & da Silva Medeiros, Maurício, 2015. "The impact of market power at bank level in risk-taking: The Brazilian case," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 154-165.
    28. Schaeck, K. & Cihák, M., 2010. "Competition, Efficiency, and Soundness in Banking : An Industrial Organization Perspective," Discussion Paper 2010-68S, Tilburg University, Center for Economic Research.
    29. Keeley, Michael C, 1990. "Deposit Insurance, Risk, and Market Power in Banking," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 80(5), pages 1183-1200, December.
    30. John H. Boyd & Gianni De Nicoló, 2005. "The Theory of Bank Risk Taking and Competition Revisited," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 60(3), pages 1329-1343, June.
    31. Steve Motsi & Oluseye Samuel Ajuwon & Collins Ntim, 2018. "Bank Competition in Sub-Saharan African Countries: Has Anything Changed in the Light of 2007-2008 Global FinancialCrisis?," SPOUDAI Journal of Economics and Business, SPOUDAI Journal of Economics and Business, University of Piraeus, vol. 68(1), pages 59-83, January-M.
    32. Mr. Gianni De Nicolo & Abu M. Jalal & John H. Boyd, 2006. "Bank Risk-Taking and Competition Revisited: New Theory and New Evidence," IMF Working Papers 2006/297, International Monetary Fund.
    33. Chen, Hsiao-Jung & Lin, Kuan-Ting, 2016. "How do banks make the trade-offs among risks? The role of corporate governance," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 72(S), pages 39-69.
    34. Mateev, Miroslav & Moudud-Ul-Huq, Syed & Sahyouni, Ahmad & Tariq, Muhammad Usman, 2022. "Capital regulation, competition and risk-taking: Policy implications for banking sector stability in the MENA region," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    35. Noman, Abu Hanifa Md. & Hassan, M. Kabir & Pervin, Sajeda & Isa, Che Ruhana & Sok-gee, Chan, 2022. "The mediating role of competition on deposit insurance and the risk-taking of banks in ASEAN countries," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    36. Saif-Alyousfi, Abdulazeez Y.H. & Saha, Asish & Md-Rus, Rohani, 2020. "The impact of bank competition and concentration on bank risk-taking behavior and stability: Evidence from GCC countries," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    37. Abu Hanifa Md Noman & Chan Sok Gee & Che Ruhana Isa, 2017. "Does competition improve financial stability of the banking sector in ASEAN countries? An empirical analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(5), pages 1-27, May.
    38. Sanjukta Sarkar & Rudra Sensarma, 2016. "The relationship between competition and risk-taking behaviour of Indian banks," Journal of Financial Economic Policy, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 8(1), pages 95-119, April.
    39. Robert M. Bushman & Bradley E. Hendricks & Christopher D. Williams, 2016. "Bank Competition: Measurement, Decision‐Making, and Risk‐Taking," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(3), pages 777-826, June.
    40. Kaufmann, Daniel & Kraay, Aart & Mastruzzi, Massimo, 2010. "The worldwide governance indicators : methodology and analytical issues," Policy Research Working Paper Series 5430, The World Bank.
    41. González, Luis Otero & Razia, Alaa & Búa, Milagros Vivel & Sestayo, Rubén Lado, 2017. "Competition, concentration and risk taking in Banking sector of MENA countries," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 591-604.
    42. Shoaib Ali & Imran Yousaf & Sumayya Chughtai & Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah, 2022. "Role of bank competition in determining liquidity creation: evidence from GCC countries," Journal of Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(1), pages 242-259, December.
    43. Rebecca Demsetz & Marc R. Saidenberg & Philip E. Strahan, 1996. "Banks with something to lose: the disciplinary role of franchise value," Economic Policy Review, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, vol. 2(Oct), pages 1-14.
    44. Klaus Schaeck & Martin Cihák, 2014. "Competition, Efficiency, and Stability in Banking," Financial Management, Financial Management Association International, vol. 43(1), pages 215-241, March.
    45. A. P. Lerner, 1934. "Economic Theory and Socialist Economy," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 2(1), pages 51-61.
    46. Fiordelisi, Franco & Mare, Davide Salvatore, 2014. "Competition and financial stability in European cooperative banks," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 1-16.
    47. Fosu, Samuel, 2013. "Banking competition in Africa: Subregional comparative studies," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 15(C), pages 233-254.
    48. Arping, Stefan, 2019. "Competition and risk taking in banking: The charter value hypothesis revisited," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 1-1.
    49. Klaus Schaeck & Martin Cihák, 2012. "Banking Competition and Capital Ratios," European Financial Management, European Financial Management Association, vol. 18(5), pages 836-866, November.
    50. Tongurai, Jittima & Vithessonthi, Chaiporn, 2020. "Bank regulations, bank competition and bank risk-taking: Evidence from Japan," Journal of Multinational Financial Management, Elsevier, vol. 56(C).
    51. Maria Celia López-Penabad & Ana Iglesias-Casal & José Fernando Silva Neto, 2021. "Competition and Financial Stability in the European Listed Banks," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(3), pages 21582440211, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Donia Aloui & Brahim Gaies & Rafla Hchaichi, 2023. "Exploring environmental degradation spillovers in Sub-Saharan Africa: the energy–financial instability nexus," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 56(3), pages 1699-1724, June.
    2. Adu, Douglas A. & Abedin, Mohammad Zoynul & Hasan, Mudassar, 2023. "Bank ownership structures and sustainable banking initiatives: The moderating effect of governance mechanism," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    3. Douglas A. Adu, 2024. "How do board and ownership characteristics affect bank risk-taking? New evidence from sub-Saharan Africa," Journal of Banking Regulation, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 25(3), pages 209-233, September.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Saif-Alyousfi, Abdulazeez Y.H. & Saha, Asish & Md-Rus, Rohani, 2020. "The impact of bank competition and concentration on bank risk-taking behavior and stability: Evidence from GCC countries," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    2. Albaity, Mohamed & Mallek, Ray Saadaoui & Noman, Abu Hanifa Md., 2019. "Competition and bank stability in the MENA region: The moderating effect of Islamic versus conventional banks," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 310-325.
    3. Cuestas, Juan Carlos & Lucotte, Yannick & Reigl, Nicolas, 2017. "Banking sector concentration, competition and financial stability: the case of the Baltic countries," Bank of Estonia Working Papers wp2017-7, Bank of Estonia, revised 11 Sep 2017.
    4. Matabaro Borauzima, Luc & Muller, Aline, 2023. "Bank risk-taking and competition in developing banking markets: Does efficiency level matter? Evidence from Africa," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    5. Juan Carlos CUESTAS & Yannick LUCOTTE & Nicolas REIGL, 2019. "Banking sector concentration, competition and financial stability: the case of the Baltic countries," LEO Working Papers / DR LEO 2731, Orleans Economics Laboratory / Laboratoire d'Economie d'Orleans (LEO), University of Orleans.
    6. Phan, Hien Thu & Anwar, Sajid & Alexander, W. Robert J. & Phan, Hanh Thi My, 2019. "Competition, efficiency and stability: An empirical study of East Asian commercial banks," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 50(C).
    7. Brei, Michael & Jacolin, Luc & Noah, Alphonse, 2020. "Credit risk and bank competition in Sub-Saharan Africa," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 44(C).
    8. Maria Karadima & Helen Louri, 2019. "Non-performing loans in the euro area: does market power matter?," Working Papers 271, Bank of Greece.
    9. El Moussawi, Chawki & Mansour, Rana, 2022. "Competition, cost efficiency and stability of banks in the MENA region," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 143-170.
    10. Samangi Bandaranayake & Kuntal K. Das & Robert W. Reed, 2020. "Another Look At ‘Bank Competition And Financial Stability: Much Ado About Nothing’?," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(2), pages 344-371, April.
    11. Bogdan Căpraru & Iulian Ihnatov & Nicoleta-Livia Pintilie, 2021. "Bank Competition And Risk-Taking In The European Union: Evidence Of A Non-Linear Relationship," Economic Annals, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Belgrade, vol. 66(230), pages 35-66, July – Se.
    12. Ernaningsih, Indria & Smaoui, Houcem & Temimi, Akram, 2023. "The effect of capitalization on the competition-stability Nexus: Evidence from dual banking systems," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    13. Samangi Bandaranayake & Kuntal K. Das & W. Robert Reed, 2018. "A Replication of “Bank Competition and Financial Stability: Much Ado About Nothing?” (Journal of Economic Surveys, 2016)," Working Papers in Economics 18/18, University of Canterbury, Department of Economics and Finance.
    14. Abu Hanifa Md Noman & Chan Sok Gee & Che Ruhana Isa, 2017. "Does competition improve financial stability of the banking sector in ASEAN countries? An empirical analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(5), pages 1-27, May.
    15. Guidi, Francesco, 2021. "Concentration, competition and financial stability in the South-East Europe banking context," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 639-670.
    16. Wu, Ji & Guo, Mengmeng & Chen, Minghua & Jeon, Bang Nam, 2019. "Market power and risk-taking of banks: Some semiparametric evidence from emerging economies," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 41(C).
    17. Mohamed Albaity & Ray Saadaoui Mallek & Hussein A. Hassan Al‐Tamimi & Abu Hanifa Md. Noman, 2021. "Does competition lead to financial stability or financial fragility for Islamic and conventional banks? Evidence from the GCC countries," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 26(3), pages 4706-4722, July.
    18. Ferdaous Bahri & Taher Hamza, 2020. "The Impact of Market Power on Bank Risk-Taking: an Empirical Investigation," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 11(3), pages 1198-1233, September.
    19. Noman, Abu Hanifa Md. & Gee, Chan Sok & Isa, Che Ruhana, 2018. "Does bank regulation matter on the relationship between competition and financial stability? Evidence from Southeast Asian countries," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 144-161.
    20. Bijoy Rakshit & Samaresh Bardhan, 2020. "Does Bank Competition Enhance or Hinder Financial Stability? Evidence from Indian Banking," Journal of Central Banking Theory and Practice, Central bank of Montenegro, vol. 9(special i), pages 75-102.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:snbeco:v:2:y:2022:i:7:d:10.1007_s43546-022-00250-1. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.