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Structural issues in the Kenyan financial system: improving competition and access

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  • Beck, Thorsten
  • Fuchs, Michael

Abstract

Although by regional standards, Kenya's financial system is relatively well developed and diversified, major structural impediments prevent it from reaching its full potential. Crosscountry comparisons, however, show the importance of a well-developed financial sector for long-term economic growth and poverty alleviation. Experience from other developing economies has shown the detrimental effect of government ownership and the positive impact that foreign bank ownership can have on the development of a market-based financial system. Analyzing and decomposing the high interest rate spreads and margins in Kenya helps identify structural impediments that drive the high cost of and low access to financial services. The limited information sharing on debtors, deficiencies in the legal and judicial system, the limited number of strong and reputable banks and non-transparency and uncertainty in the banking market are major impediments to the development of Kenya's financial system, to reducing spreads and to widening access.

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  • Beck, Thorsten & Fuchs, Michael, 2004. "Structural issues in the Kenyan financial system: improving competition and access," Policy Research Working Paper Series 3363, The World Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:3363
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    2. Wolde-Rufael, Yemane, 2009. "Re-examining the financial development and economic growth nexus in Kenya," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 26(6), pages 1140-1146, November.
    3. Saibal Ghosh, 2008. "Regulatory Pressure, Market Discipline, and Bank Spreads in India: An Empirical Exploration," Global Economic Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(2), pages 227-247.
    4. Robert Arasa & Prudensia Kaihula, 2015. "The Role of Financial Intermediaries in the Internationalization of Capital Markets in Kenya: A Study of stock brokers in Kenya," Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, AMH International, vol. 7(5), pages 91-102.
    5. World Bank, 2009. "Uganda - Making Finance Work," World Bank Publications - Reports 12502, The World Bank Group.
    6. Pelletier, Adeline, 2018. "Performance of foreign banks in developing countries: evidence from sub-Saharan African banking markets," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 86368, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    7. Dang, Tung Lam & Luong, Hoang & Nguyen, Lily & Nguyen, My, 2024. "Political uncertainty and commonality in liquidity," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    8. Muwanga Sebunya Gertrude, 2021. "Economic Growth and Financial Sector Development: Long-Run Structural Break Cointegration and Short-Run Equilibrium Relationships in the East African Community," International Journal of Applied Economics, Finance and Accounting, Online Academic Press, vol. 9(2), pages 48-62.
    9. Hesse, Heiko, 2007. "Financial intermediation in the pre-consolidated banking sector in Nigeria," Policy Research Working Paper Series 4267, The World Bank.
    10. Demirguc-Kunt, Asli, 2006. "Finance and economic development : policy choices for developing countries," Policy Research Working Paper Series 3955, The World Bank.
    11. Emre Alper & Benedict Clements & Niko Hobdari & Rafel Moya Porcel, 2020. "Do interest rate controls work? Evidence from Kenya," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(3), pages 910-926, August.
    12. Beck, Thorsten, 2006. "Creating an efficient financial system : challenges in a global economy," Policy Research Working Paper Series 3856, The World Bank.
    13. Thorsten Beck & Michael Fuchs & Dorothe Singer & Makaio Witte, 2014. "Making Cross-Border Banking Work for Africa," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 20248.
    14. Lisa D. Cook, 2014. "Were the Nigerian Banking Reforms of 2005 a Success … and for the Poor?," NBER Chapters, in: African Successes, Volume III: Modernization and Development, pages 157-182, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    15. World Bank, 2007. "Kenya : Unleashing the Potential for Trade and Growth," World Bank Publications - Reports 7999, The World Bank Group.
    16. Pelletier, Adeline, 2018. "Performance of foreign banks in developing countries: Evidence from sub-Saharan African banking markets," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 292-311.
    17. Richard Podpiera & Mr. Martin Cihak, 2005. "Bank Behavior in Developing Countries: Evidence from East Africa," IMF Working Papers 2005/129, International Monetary Fund.
    18. Lisa D. Cook, 2011. "Were the Nigerian Banking Reforms of 2005 A Success ... And for the Poor?," NBER Working Papers 16890, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

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