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Interest Rate Spreads in English-Speaking African Countries

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  • Mr. Joe Crowley

Abstract

This paper examines interest rate spreads in English-speaking African countries. Higher spreads were found to be associated with lower inflation, a greater number of banks, and greater public ownership of banks. Higher deposit interest rates were found to be associated with lower interest rate spreads, but higher net interest margins. A large increase in spreads in the late 1980s and 1990s may be explained by a strengthening of financial sector supervision. Limited data suggested that poor governance, weak regulatory frameworks and property rights, and higher required reserve ratios are associated with higher spreads.

Suggested Citation

  • Mr. Joe Crowley, 2007. "Interest Rate Spreads in English-Speaking African Countries," IMF Working Papers 2007/101, International Monetary Fund.
    • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2007/101
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    Cited by:

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    2. David Tennant & Abiodun Folawewo, 2009. "Macroeconomic and market determinants of interest rate spreads in low- and middle-income countries," Applied Financial Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 19(6), pages 489-507.
    3. Florian Leon, 2015. "What do we know about the role of bank competition in Africa?," CERDI Working papers halshs-01164864, HAL.
    4. Hany A. Saleh & Abdelkader Derbali, 2020. "The Importance of Internal and External Factors in Defining the Profitability of UK Insurance Companies," International Journal of Finance, Insurance and Risk Management, International Journal of Finance, Insurance and Risk Management, vol. 10(4), pages 25-39.
    5. Akash Hossain & Raad Mozib Lalon, 2024. "An Empirical Investigation on the Determinants of Interest Rate Spread of Commercial Banks in Bangladesh," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 14(6), pages 97-103, October.
    6. Hong Liu & John Wilson, 2010. "The profitability of banks in Japan," Applied Financial Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(24), pages 1851-1866.
    7. Kozo Kiyota & Barbara Peitsch & Robert M. Stern, 2007. "The Case for Financial Sector Liberalization in Ethiopia," Working Papers 567, Research Seminar in International Economics, University of Michigan.
    8. Cecilia Maigua & Gekara Mouni, 2016. "Influence of Interest Rates Determinants on the Performance of Commercial Banks in Kenya," International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, vol. 6(2), pages 121-133, April.
    9. Murad Khan & Abdul Jalil, 2020. "Determinants of Interest Margin in Pakistan: A Panel Data Analysis," Economies, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-14, March.
    10. Hossain, Monzur, 2012. "Financial reforms and persistently high bank interest spreads in Bangladesh: Pitfalls in institutional development?," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 23(4), pages 395-408.
    11. Brunilda NELI, 2015. "Macroeconomic And Market Determinants Of Interest Rate Spread: Evidence From Albania," Scientific Bulletin - Economic Sciences, University of Pitesti, vol. 14(3), pages 51-59.
    12. Mr. Fazurin Jamaludin & Mr. Vladimir Klyuev & Anuk Serechetapongse, 2015. "What Drives Interest Rate Spreads in Pacific Island Countries? An Empirical Investigation," IMF Working Papers 2015/096, International Monetary Fund.
    13. Quoc Trung Nguyen Kim, 2022. "Does Financial Leverage Fit Firm Performance During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence From Vietnam," International Journal of Asian Business and Information Management (IJABIM), IGI Global, vol. 13(1), pages 1-20, January.
    14. Mujeri, Mustafa K & Younus, Sayera, 2009. "An Analysis of Interest Rate Spread in the Banking Sector in Bangladesh," Bangladesh Development Studies, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), vol. 32(4), pages 1-34, December.

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