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Persistent and transient inefficiency: Explaining the low efficiency of Chinese big banks

Author

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  • Zuzana Fungáčová
  • Paul-Olivier Klein

    (LARGE - Laboratoire de recherche en gestion et économie - UNISTRA - Université de Strasbourg - L'europe en mutation : histoire, droit, économie et identités culturelles - UNISTRA - Université de Strasbourg - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Laurent Weill

    (LARGE - Laboratoire de Recherche en Gestion et Economie - UNISTRA - Université de Strasbourg)

Abstract

A vast literature shows that China's five largest state-owned banks (the Big Five) suffer from low cost efficiency. We offer a new explanation of this situation, by decomposing overall efficiency of Chinese banks into two parts: persistent and transient efficiency. Using the model of Kumbhakar, Lien and Hardaker (2014) based on the stochastic frontier approach, we measure persistent and transient efficiency for a large sample of 166 Chinese banks over the period 2008–2015. We show that the lower efficiency of China's Big Five banks is almost entirely due to low persistent cost efficiency, indicating structural problems. On the contrary, the Big Five banks transient efficiency is similar to other Chinese banks, reflecting a good aptitude to minimize their costs in the short-term. Our findings support the view that major structural reforms are needed to enhance the efficiency of China's Big Five banks.

Suggested Citation

  • Zuzana Fungáčová & Paul-Olivier Klein & Laurent Weill, 2020. "Persistent and transient inefficiency: Explaining the low efficiency of Chinese big banks," Post-Print hal-03058848, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-03058848
    DOI: 10.1016/j.chieco.2019.101368
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-03058848
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Karlo Kauko, 2021. "The Vanishing Interest Income of Chinese Banks," Asian Economic Papers, MIT Press, vol. 20(3), pages 94-113, Fall.
    2. Ferrara, Giancarlo & Kounetas, Konstantinos E., 2024. "US banks efficiency after global financial crisis: Transient and persistent decomposition," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    3. Ivan Huljak & Reiner Martin & Diego Moccero, 2021. "Bank productivity in CESEE countries," Focus on European Economic Integration, Oesterreichische Nationalbank (Austrian Central Bank), issue Q2/21, pages 83-104.
    4. Xiang Chen & Xuping Zhang & Yujia Wang & Hairui Jia, 2022. "The risk‐adjusted profit productivity change in Chinese banks: A comparative analysis of the different type banks," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(2), pages 523-532, March.
    5. 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.
    6. Fungáčová, Zuzana & Kerola, Eeva & Weill, Laurent, 2023. "Does bank efficiency affect the bank lending channel in China?," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 55(C).
    7. Xiaoheng Zhang & Bingyu Huangfu & Shi Min, 2022. "Persistent and transient efficiency of the chemical fertilizer firms in China: Does ownership matter?," International Studies of Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 17(1), pages 108-124, June.
    8. Kryzanowski, Lawrence & Liu, Jinjing & Zhang, Jie, 2023. "Effect of COVID-19 on non-performing loans in China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).
    9. Ivan Huljak & Reiner Martin & Diego Moccero, 2022. "The productivity growth of euro area banks," Journal of Productivity Analysis, Springer, vol. 58(1), pages 15-33, August.
    10. Zhu, Bei & Zhong, Ruohan & Wei, Chu, 2024. "Measuring digital government service performance: Evidence from China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    11. Maria Molinos-Senante & Alexandros Maziotis, 2022. "Decomposition of Cost Efficiency Into Persistent and Transient Efficiency in the Provision of Water Services: Evidence from England and Wales," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 36(6), pages 1849-1862, April.
    12. Maziotis, Alexandros & Molinos-Senante, Maria, 2022. "The impact of model specification and environmental variables on measuring the overall technical efficiency of water and sewerage services: Evidence from Chile," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 191-198.
    13. Fungáčová, Zuzana & Kerola, Eeva & Weill, Laurent, 2021. "Does bank efficiency affect the bank lending channel in China?," BOFIT Discussion Papers 3/2021, Bank of Finland, Institute for Economies in Transition.
    14. repec:zbw:bofitp:2021_003 is not listed on IDEAS

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    JEL classification:

    • C23 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Models with Panel Data; Spatio-temporal Models
    • D24 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Production; Cost; Capital; Capital, Total Factor, and Multifactor Productivity; Capacity
    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages

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