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Market Power and Cost Efficiency in the African Banking Industry

Author

Listed:
  • Simplice A. Asongu

    (Yaoundé/Cameroon)

  • Rexon T. Nting

    (London, UK)

  • Joseph Nnanna

    (The Development Bank of Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria)

Abstract

Purpose- In this study, we test the so-called ‘Quiet Life Hypothesis’ (QLH) which postulates that banks with market power are less efficient. Design/methodology/approach- We employ instrumental variable Ordinary Least Squares, Fixed Effects, Tobit and Logistic regressions. The empirical evidence is based on a panel of 162 banks consisting of 42 African countries for the period 2001-2011. There is a two-step analytical procedure. First, we estimate Lerner indices and cost efficiency scores. Then, we regress cost efficiency scores on Lerner indices contingent on bank characteristics, market features and the unobserved heterogeneity. Findings- The empirical evidence does not support the QLH because market power is positively associated with cost efficiency. Originality/value- Owing to data availability constraints, this is one of the few studies to test the QLH in African banking.

Suggested Citation

  • Simplice A. Asongu & Rexon T. Nting & Joseph Nnanna, 2019. "Market Power and Cost Efficiency in the African Banking Industry," Working Papers of the African Governance and Development Institute. 19/080, African Governance and Development Institute..
    • Handle: RePEc:agd:wpaper:19/080
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    Cited by:

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    3. Dorgyles C.M. Kouakou, 2022. "Separating innovation short-run and long-run technical efficiencies: Evidence from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)," European Journal of Comparative Economics, Cattaneo University (LIUC), vol. 19(1), pages 103-141, June.
    4. Moses Nyangu & Nyankomo Marwa & Ashenafi Fanta & Latacz-Lohmann Uwe, 2022. "The Dynamics of Bank Concentration, Competition and Efficiency in the East African Community," Journal of Industry, Competition and Trade, Springer, vol. 22(1), pages 21-49, March.
    5. Dorgyles C.M. Kouakou, 2022. "Separating innovation short-run and long-run technical efficiencies: Evidence from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)," European Journal of Comparative Economics, Cattaneo University (LIUC), vol. 19(1), pages 103-141, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Finance; Savings banks; Competition; Efficiency; Quiet life hypothesis;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E42 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Money and Interest Rates - - - Monetary Sytsems; Standards; Regimes; Government and the Monetary System
    • E52 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Monetary Policy
    • E58 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit - - - Central Banks and Their Policies
    • 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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