Financial dualism: An analysis of the effects of informal finance on formal finance in West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) countries

This paper analyzes the effects of informal finance on formal finance in West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) countries. To this end, it uses a Probit model with a binary endogenous regressor and data from the Global Findex database, 2021. The findings indicate that having already saved informally positively affects the behavior of individuals to save formally. They also indicate that informal financial credit positively affects formal financial credits in the WAEMU. These findings indicate that formal finance is complementary to informal finance in the WAEMU. On the other hand, the findings show that labour force participation, mobile banking use and online banking use increase the likelihood of use of formal and informal services in the WAEMU. This paper suggests that formal financial institutions (mainly banks and microfinance institutions) should strengthen their collaboration with actors (money keepers, itinerant bankers, tontines systems) involved in the provision of informal financial services to populations in order to improve formal financial intermediation in the WAEMU.     

Competitiveness and Efficiency of the Banking Sector and Economic Growth in Egypt

Abstract: This paper investigates the impact of financial reforms on competitiveness and production efficiency of the banking sector, as well as the short‐term and long‐term impact on economic growth, in Egypt during 1992–2007. The results suggest that the reforms have a positive and significant effect on competitiveness and production efficiency. Also, the evidence shows that state‐owned banks are generally less competitive than private banks and foreign banks are less competitive than domestic banks. The average x‐inefficiency of Egyptian banks is around 30 per cent, which is comparable to those reported for other African countries. Finally, there is evidence to suggest a significant relationship between financial bank productive efficiency and economic growth in the short run but not in the long run. Overall, the results support the argument for continuing the financial sector reform programme in Egypt.     

Bank Lending and Economic Growth of Chinese Cities

Using a city-level dataset over the period 2004-2006,the present study investigates the relationship between bank lending and the economic growth of Chinese cities.Unlike past studies,we divide bank lending into loans from three types of banks:foreign banks,city banks and other banks.Our findings are threefold.First,the lending of foreign banks exhibits a strong and positive association with the economic growth of Chinese cities. Second,foreign direct investment in the sampled cities enhances the lending effects of foreign banks,but reduces the lending effects of other banks on the economy of Chinese cities.Third, the effects of city competitiveness are similar to those of foreign direct investment;that is,city competitiveness augments the lending effects of foreign banks but reduces the lending effects of other banks.     

Geographic Distance and Credit Market Access in Niger

Abstract: Distances involved in accessing basic services can constitute a major barrier to development. This paper analyzes the relationship between the distance separating households from microfinance institutions’ offices in Niger, and the low levels of development and performance of the microfinance sector in the country. To cope with the effects of geographical distance, microfinance institutions adapt their policies through more restrictive loan conditions, higher interest rates and more intensive screening. This then leads us to discuss the tension between access and sustainability in the context of financial services for the poor.     

The Synergistic Effects Between Insurance and Credit Markets on Economic Growth: Evidence from China

Insurance and credit markets share some common roles in stimulating economic growth, whether they are complementary or not is worth researching further. Based on the generalized method of moments, this paper investigates the synergistic effects between insurance and credit markets on economic growth in Chinese different regions using an interaction term in the regression model. Moreover, to understand the different economic roles of life and nonlife insurance sectors, we include them into estimation model as well. The results indicate that total insurance and credit markets are substituted, life insurance and credit markets are substituted, and nonlife insurance and credit markets are complementary in the whole region. Specifically, the synergistic effects between insurance and credit markets on economic growth vary considerably across different regions. These findings offer several useful insights for policy-makers.     

Multinationals,Institutions and Economic Growth in China

This study examines the effects of multinationals and economic institutions on the economic growth of cities in China. Consistent with previous findings, the empirical results suggest that property rights institutions are significantly more important than contracting institutions in promoting economic growth. The direct effect of multinationals on economic growth is generally insignificant statistically. However, a statistically significant and robust interaction effect exists between property rights institutions and multinationals on economic growth, whereas no such effect is observed between contracting institutions and multinationals. The results are attributable to the fact that multinationals can rely on reputation or personal connections to enforce contracts when contracting institutions are weak. However, it is difficult for multinationals to operate when the state expropriates their profits (i.e. property rights institutions are weak).     

Financial Sector Reforms,Bank Performance and Economic Growth: Evidence from Zambia

Abstract: This paper investigates the effects of market‐based financial sector reforms on the competitiveness and efficiency of commercial banks, and economic growth, in Zambia. The results show that reforms adopted in Phase II (strengthening of regulatory and supervisory, payments and settlements, and financial operations frameworks) and Phase III (implementation of a comprehensive financial sector development plan) had significant positive effects on bank cost efficiency. Macroeconomic variables such as per capita GDP and inflation were insignificant. Further, using an endogenous growth model in which industrial production is a proxy for GDP growth, it was found that bank cost efficiency, financial depth, Phase II and III financial sector reforms, the degree of economic openness, and rate of inflation were significant determinants of economic growth. Phase II policies and the inflation rate have negative effects while the rest of the variables have positive effects on economic growth. Some plausible policy lessons are offered.     

Measuring the Impact of Microfinance on Child Health Outcomes in Indonesia

Microfinance has become a staple of modern development policy as a means to facilitate anything from gender equality to growth. It can facilitate the sharing of health-related information among parents, promote the bargaining power of women in the household, aid in the development of important health-related infrastructure, and help households smooth consumption in the wake of unexpected economic shocks. Using data from the Indonesian Family Life Survey (1993–2000), we find that the presence of microfinance institutions in communities significantly improves the health of children.     

Lessons learnt from Nkwe Enterprise Finance

Nkwe Enterprise Finance, a financial service to fund microenterprises in the North West province, suspended its operations after just over two years of lending. This happened against the background of three significant events. First, a new apex for pro-poor microfinance was designed, which resulted in the need to reconsider the nature of Khula's ongoing role as wholesaler to microfinance institutions. Second, the Financial Services Charter was signed in October 2003, in which banks committed to targets for so-called empowerment lending, including black small and medium enterprises. Third, a large number of microfinance initiatives continued to fail to reach sustainability and scale. This article investigates the reasons for the suspension of Nkwe's activities and draws conclusions on the lessons that should be learnt for the future development of microenterprise funding in South Africa.     

Rethinking Economic Growth in a Globalizing World: An Economic Geography Lens*

Abstract: This paper argues that cumulative causation processes are fundamental to understanding growth and development. Such processes derive from spatially concentrated increasing returns to scale including thick market effects, knowledge spillovers, sectoral and urban clustering, and self‐reinforcing improvements in physical and social infrastructure. These sources of agglomeration have been extensively analyzed in the economic geography literature. They imply that spatial unevenness in economic activity and incomes is an equilibrium outcome. Growth tends to be ‘lumpy’, with some sectors in some countries growing fast while other countries lag. The policy challenge is to lift potential new centers of economic activity to the point where they can reap the productivity and investment climate advantages of increasing returns and cumulative causation.     

Reconceptualizing the Developmental State: Public Savings and Economic Growth

Developmental state theory suggests that rapid economic growth can be achieved when states allocate financial resources to strategic industrial sectors. While not denying this mechanism, I argue that an equally important component of state-led growth is public sector efforts to mobilize financial resources for investment and growth. I support this argument with crossnational statistical evidence, and a Brazilian case study, both of which suggest that public savings substantially influence economic growth rates.     

普惠金融视野下大型商业银行介入小额信贷的模式与机制

国外大型商业银行已越来越多介入小额信贷发展,我国普惠金融建设离不开大型商业银行的作用。但过去我国大型商业银行直接从事小额信贷的效果不理想。基于我国小额信贷发展实际寻求一种新的大型商业银行参与小额信贷模式,从理论角度研究大型商业银行与专业性小额信贷机构合作的实现机制,是大型商业银行成功参与小额信贷的重要前提。     

Equity,Bonds, Institutional Debt and Economic Growth: Evidence from South Africa

We examine the finance‐growth nexus in South Africa accounting for the role of bond markets, stock markets, and bank and non‐bank financial intermediaries using a vector autoregressive technique. Extant empirical literature has largely accounted for only banks and stock markets, ignoring bond market and non‐bank financial intermediaries. We find that bond market development affects economic growth in South Africa, and no similar effect is observed for the bank and non‐bank financial intermediaries and the stock market. Our finding shows that examination of individual elements of the financial system is important in understanding the unique effect of each on growth. The observation that the bond market rather than stock market, bank and non‐bank institutions promote economic growth in South Africa induces an intriguing question as to what unique roles bond markets play that the intermediaries and equity market are unable to play.     

我国小额贷款公司监管政策及其演变趋势

自200S年商业性小额贷款公司试点工作开展以来,我国小额贷款业经历了井喷式的发展。但监管过严、市场化不足等问题在很大程度上限制了小额贷款公司的进一步发展。本文从小额贷款公司的全国性监管政策的框架问题、尺度问题、定位问题,地方性管理办法在相应问题层面的突破及其中存在的困难入手,对我国小贷公司监管现状进行分析。基于现状,我们认为未来监管政策主要有三条可能的演变路径：合理化监管政策以保障小贷公司本色发展;放宽门槛以促进小贷公司改制为村镇银行;出台新规以引导小贷公司转型为金融公司。结合国际小贷发展的成功经验,本文又具体分析了三条监管政策演变路径的可能性、相应问题及解决途径,对未来政策的调整进行判断,为监管部门提供相应的政策建议。     

The Link between Institutional and Economic Integration: Insights for Latin America from the European Experience

The European experience illustrates that institutional integration interacts with economic integration at the regional level. In this paper we ask how economic and institutional integration are linked and whether there is a causal link between the two. We present an original indicator of institutional integration and study how it developed vis-à-vis diverse measures of economic integration. In particular, we ask what insights can be drawn from the European process of regional integration, which started in the 1950s, for regional integration in Latin America today. We find that Latin America is currently less economically integrated not only than the European Union today, but for certain economic variables even than the European Union in the 1960s. A VAR analysis illustrates that the link between institutional and economic integration has worked both ways throughout the European experience. There is also evidence that stronger institutional integration has indeed led to deeper economic integration.     

Economic Union,Finance and Growth: A Prognosis in West Africa

This paper compares the impact of financial development on economic growth in the Union Économique et Monetaire Ouest Africaine (UEMOA) and non‐UEMOA countries. It also examines the finance‐growth nexus before and after the formation of UEMOA, as well as the indirect effect of economic union on economic growth through the financial sector. The study reveals a significant difference in the finance‐growth nexus between UEMOA and non‐UEMOA countries. Specifically, financial development has a robust positive impact on growth in UEMOA countries, while the impact is tenuous in non‐UEMOA countries. However, we find no remarkable difference in the finance‐growth nexus before and after the formation of UEMOA. We also reveal that economic union has no robust indirect effect on economic growth via the financial sector. The economic implication is that UEMOA could have economic benefits, but financial development is not a channel through which it influences growth. Therefore, it is necessary to reposition the union so that it can enhance the impact of finance on growth.     

Cost efficiency,economies of scale,technological progress and productivity in Indonesian banks

This study estimates cost efficiency, economies of scale, technological progress, and productivity growth among Indonesian banks from 1993 to 2000. Average cost efficiency for the banking sector over this period was 70%. However, there is a marked difference in cost efficiency before and after the Asian economic crisis. The banking sector cost efficiency was 80% prior to the crisis and 53% after the crisis. Moreover, results indicate that private-owned banks and joint venture/foreign banks were more efficient than public-owned banks. Furthermore, the relationship between cost efficiency and total assets suggests an optimum bank asset size. Cost reductions attributed to technological progress and economies of scale were greater prior to the Asian economic crisis. Larger decreases in total factor productivity are evident in the post-crisis period.     

Responding to financial crisis: Bank credit expansion with Chinese characteristics

China has sustained a high rate of economic growth even after the outbreak of global financial crisis around 2008 and 2009. Much of the growth stemmed from consistently high levels of lending after this period. Using a unique large dataset from all banking institutions in 90 counties across 14 provinces of China from 2005 to 2013, this paper examines the patterns of credit expansion by Chinese banks. Our study results reveal a clear pattern of counter-cyclical credit expansion by Chinese banks in response to the outbreak of global financial crisis. We find that ownership structure and bank governance do impact on bank lending: the large state-owned banks have responded more to political pressure to lend while the joint-stock banks and city commercial banks have been more profit oriented. The latter had increased their lending more to increase their presence at the county markets. Overall, compared with county-based small banks, cross-regional banks have expanded their lending much more aggressively. Differences in liquidity and deposit growth, risk management strategies, or legal enforcement cannot explain these results.     

The “news view” of economic fluctuations: Evidence from aggregate Japanese data and sectoral US data

This paper uses aggregate Japanese data and sectoral US data to explore the properties of the joint behavior of stock prices and total factor productivity (TFP) with the aim of highlighting data patterns that are useful for evaluating business cycle theories. The approach used follows that presented in [Beaudry, P., Portier, F., 2004. News, stock prices and economic fluctuations. Working paper 10548. NBER]. The main findings are that (i) in both Japan and the US, innovations in stock prices that are contemporaneously orthogonal to TFP precede most of the long-run movements in total factor productivity and (ii) such stock prices innovations do not affect US sectoral TFPs contemporaneously, but do precede TFP increases in those sectors that are driving US TFP growth, namely durable goods, and among them equipment sectors. J. Japanese Int. Economies 19 (4) (2005) 635–652.     

我国银行业结构与经济增长的实证研究

自1994年以来,我国的经济金融体制不断深化改革,银行业整体规模迅速扩张,并逐渐形成多层次、多元化的银行业体系。为了考察我国银行业结构对我国经济增长的影响,本文根据我国的地理和经济特征,将我国划分为了六个区域,并运用六个区域在1995至2010年间的面板数据,以中小金融机构的市场份额(即除四大国有银行外的其他金融机构的贷款余额占各区域全部金融机构贷款余额的比例)为度量指标,采用固定效应模型和广义矩估计法(GMM),分析了不同规模银行在整个银行体系中的相对重要性。通过研究发现,我国中小银行的市场份额与经济增长之间具有显著的正向关系,在现阶段的中国,提高中小银行的市场份额能够有效促进实体经济的发展,并提出了相关的政策建议。