Structure and profitability in the banking sector

The relationship between profit and bank market structure continues to raise questions amongst both policy makers and researchers. While some evidence supports a positive relationship between market structure, competition and profitability, other evidence seems to support the fact that profitability...

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Main Authors: Munacinga Simatele, Syden Mishi, Nomasomi Ngonyama
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: LLC "CPC "Business Perspectives" 2018-02-01
Series:Banks and Bank Systems
Subjects:
Online Access:https://businessperspectives.org/images/pdf/applications/publishing/templates/article/assets/9979/BBS_2018_01_Simatele.pdf
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author Munacinga Simatele
Syden Mishi
Nomasomi Ngonyama
author_facet Munacinga Simatele
Syden Mishi
Nomasomi Ngonyama
author_sort Munacinga Simatele
collection DOAJ
description The relationship between profit and bank market structure continues to raise questions amongst both policy makers and researchers. While some evidence supports a positive relationship between market structure, competition and profitability, other evidence seems to support the fact that profitability and related market share result from efficiency. Moreover, extant literature on South Africa is conflicting and seems to contradict anecdotal evidence. While some studies point to a competitive environment despite concentration, others suggest that concentration in the banking sector is harmful. Prosecution of banks for uncompetitive behavior also casts doubt on the conclusion that the South African banking sector is competitive. This paper examines the relationship between structure and conduct in the South African banking sector. Using the Berger (1995) discriminating tests, the effect of industry concentration, market share and efficiency on three measures of profitability is estimated on a panel of 11 South African banks for data between 1994 and 2016. The results show that concentration affects conduct. The profit-structure relationship is dominantly explained by the structure conduct hypothesis and partly by the efficient scale hypothesis. These results suggest that policy which discourages concentration and promotes competition in the banking sector is socially beneficial.
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spelling doaj.art-e8044b7b864c4ddba45a297aa2c27bfc2022-12-22T01:32:59ZengLLC "CPC "Business Perspectives"Banks and Bank Systems1816-74031991-70742018-02-01131495910.21511/bbs.13(1).2018.059979Structure and profitability in the banking sectorMunacinga Simatele0Syden Mishi1Nomasomi Ngonyama2Dr., Associate Professor, Nedbank Chair in Economics, University of Fort HareDr., Senior Researcher Govan Mbeki Research Development Center, University of Fort HareLecturer, Department of Economics, University of Fort HareThe relationship between profit and bank market structure continues to raise questions amongst both policy makers and researchers. While some evidence supports a positive relationship between market structure, competition and profitability, other evidence seems to support the fact that profitability and related market share result from efficiency. Moreover, extant literature on South Africa is conflicting and seems to contradict anecdotal evidence. While some studies point to a competitive environment despite concentration, others suggest that concentration in the banking sector is harmful. Prosecution of banks for uncompetitive behavior also casts doubt on the conclusion that the South African banking sector is competitive. This paper examines the relationship between structure and conduct in the South African banking sector. Using the Berger (1995) discriminating tests, the effect of industry concentration, market share and efficiency on three measures of profitability is estimated on a panel of 11 South African banks for data between 1994 and 2016. The results show that concentration affects conduct. The profit-structure relationship is dominantly explained by the structure conduct hypothesis and partly by the efficient scale hypothesis. These results suggest that policy which discourages concentration and promotes competition in the banking sector is socially beneficial.https://businessperspectives.org/images/pdf/applications/publishing/templates/article/assets/9979/BBS_2018_01_Simatele.pdfbankscompetitionmarket structureprofitabilitySouth Africa
spellingShingle Munacinga Simatele
Syden Mishi
Nomasomi Ngonyama
Structure and profitability in the banking sector
Banks and Bank Systems
banks
competition
market structure
profitability
South Africa
title Structure and profitability in the banking sector
title_full Structure and profitability in the banking sector
title_fullStr Structure and profitability in the banking sector
title_full_unstemmed Structure and profitability in the banking sector
title_short Structure and profitability in the banking sector
title_sort structure and profitability in the banking sector
topic banks
competition
market structure
profitability
South Africa
url https://businessperspectives.org/images/pdf/applications/publishing/templates/article/assets/9979/BBS_2018_01_Simatele.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT munacingasimatele structureandprofitabilityinthebankingsector
AT sydenmishi structureandprofitabilityinthebankingsector
AT nomasomingonyama structureandprofitabilityinthebankingsector