What Drives the Performance of Selected MENA Banks? A Meta-Frontier Analysis

What Drives the Performance of Selected MENA Banks? A Meta-Frontier Analysis

Author: Hichem Ben-Khedhiri

Publisher: International Monetary Fund

Published: 2011-02-01

Total Pages: 33

ISBN-13: 1455217921

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This study examines the effect of financial-sector reform on bank performance in selected Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) countries in the period 1994 -2008. We evaluate bank efficiency in Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Lebanon and Tunisia by means of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and we employ a meta-frontier approach to calculate efficiency scores in a cross-country setting. We then employ a second-stage regression to investigate the impact of institutional, financial, and bank specific variables on bank efficiency. Overall, the analysis shows that, despite similarities in the process of financial reforms undertaken in the five MENA countries, the observed efficiency levels of banks vary substantially across markets, with Morocco consistently outperforming the rest of the region.Differences in technology seem to be crucial in explaining efficiency differences. To foster banking sector performance, policies should be aimed at giving banks incentives to improve their risk management and portfolio management techniques. Improvements in the legal system and in the regulatory and supervisory bodies would also help to reduce inefficiency.


Stock Markets, Banks, and Economic Growth

Stock Markets, Banks, and Economic Growth

Author: Sami Ben Naceur

Publisher:

Published: 2005

Total Pages: 18

ISBN-13:

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Since few decades, a wide theoretical debate is concerned with the fundamental relationship between financial development and economic growth as well as the separate impact of banks on growth and financial markets on growth. Recent studies shed some light on the simultaneous effect of banks and financial development on growth. The empirical study is conducted using an unbalanced panel data from ten MENA region countries. Econometric issues will be based on estimation of a dynamic panel model with GMM estimators. Thus, peculiarities of MENA region countries will be detected. The empirical results reinforce the idea of no significant relationship between banking and stock market development, and growth. The association between stock markets and growth is even negative after controlling for bank development. This lack of relationship must be linked either to underdeveloped financial systems in the MENA region that hamper economic growth or to unstable growth rates in the region that affect the quality of the association between finance and growth. Moreover, in most transition economies the stock markets are very thin. This may lead to excessively volatile share prices. According to Singh (1997), stock price volatility may seriously hamper economic development.


Challenges of Growth and Globalization in the Middle East and North Africa

Challenges of Growth and Globalization in the Middle East and North Africa

Author: Mr.Hamid R Davoodi

Publisher: International Monetary Fund

Published: 2003-09-05

Total Pages: 44

ISBN-13: 9781589062290

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The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is an economically diverse region. Despite undertaking economic reforms in many countries, and having considerable success in avoiding crises and achieving macroeconomic stability, the region’s economic performance in the past 30 years has been below potential. This paper takes stock of the region’s relatively weak performance, explores the reasons for this out come, and proposes an agenda for urgent reforms.


What Drives Stock Market Development in the Middle East and Central Asia--Institutions, Remittances, Or Natural Resources?

What Drives Stock Market Development in the Middle East and Central Asia--Institutions, Remittances, Or Natural Resources?

Author: Andreas Billmeier

Publisher: International Monetary Fund

Published: 2007-07

Total Pages: 28

ISBN-13:

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In this paper, we assess the macroeconomic determinants of stock market capitalization in a panel of 17 countries in the Middle East and Central Asia, including both hydrocarbon-rich countries and economies without sizeable natural resource wealth. In addition to traditional variables, we include an institutional variable and remittances among the regressors. We find that (i) both institutions and remittances have a positive and significant impact on market capitalization; and (ii) both regressors matter, especially in countries without significant hydrocarbon sectors; whereas (iii) in resource-rich countries, stock market capitalization is mainly driven by the oil price.


Financial Development, Islamic Banking and Economic Growth

Financial Development, Islamic Banking and Economic Growth

Author: Mohamed Goaied

Publisher:

Published: 2018

Total Pages:

ISBN-13:

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In this paper we assess the relationship between the financial development and growth in some countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. We try to check the specific effect of Islamic sector on the economic growth using the amount of credit issued to the private sector by Islamic banks as measures of Islamic financial development. There are three main findings. First, empirical results show an insignificant relationship between banking and growth which reinforce the idea that banks don't spur economic growth. Besides, we find that credit to private sectors affect negatively with economic growth. Second, Islamic banks don't make the exception in the financial markets and show a weak relation with growth but it tends to act positively as theoretically demonstrated. Third, there is evidence that this relationship is quite heterogeneous across MENA countries where financial development does not cause economic growth in MENA countries without oil windfall and the relationship is negative for Petroleum Exporting MENA Countries.


The Finance and Growth Nexus Re-Examined

The Finance and Growth Nexus Re-Examined

Author: Mr.Adolfo Barajas

Publisher: International Monetary Fund

Published: 2013-05-29

Total Pages: 47

ISBN-13: 1484372107

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A large theoretical and empirical literature has focused on the impact of financial deepening on economic growth throughout the world. This paper contributes to the literature by investigating whether this impact differs across regions, income levels, and types of economy. Using a rich dataset for 150 countries for the period 1975–2005, dynamic panel estimation results suggest that the beneficial effect of financial deepening on economic growth in fact displays measurable heterogeneity; it is generally smaller in oil exporting countries; in certain regions, such as the Middle East and North Africa (MENA); and in lower-income countries. Further analysis suggests that these differences might be driven by regulatory/supervisory characteristics and related to differences in the ability to provide widespread access to financial services.


The Road Not Traveled

The Road Not Traveled

Author: Ahmed Galal

Publisher: Mena Development Report

Published: 2008

Total Pages: 388

ISBN-13:

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"Education is a powerful force that can speed up economic growth, improve income distribution, facilitate social mobility, and reduce poverty. It can also improve the quality of life for citizens by contributing to longer life expectancy, lower fertility and infant mortality rates, and a more cohesive national identity. However, none of these positive outcomes are automatic. All too often, investment in education generates low returns to the individuals involved and society at large. Thus, while investment in education is a necessary condition for faster development and prosperity, it is by no means sufficient. This MENA flagship report explores whether past investments in education in the region have generated their maximum economic returns, and, if not, why they have failed to do so. Ultimately, the answers to these questions are being sought to help policymakers chart more fruitful strategies in the future." -- Overview (p. 1).


Handbook Of Banking And Finance In The Mena Region

Handbook Of Banking And Finance In The Mena Region

Author: Khaled Hussainey

Publisher: World Scientific

Published: 2024-03-19

Total Pages: 452

ISBN-13: 1800614748

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According to World Bank (2021), the economic recovery post-COVID-19 in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) has been uneven and tumultuous. Reasons for this include exposure to oil-price fluctuations, the impact of pandemic, public demonstrations, and political instability. Although the MENA region encompasses a variety of countries — wealthy, stable and oil-rich countries such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar as well as less secure countries such as Iraq and Syria — it plays an important role in the global economy.Handbook of Banking and Finance in the MENA Region explores the trends in finance and banking of the MENA region, including theoretical and empirical perspectives from researchers around the globe. The first part of the book explores numerous reforms in the region's banking and finance, including digital technology, financial technology (fintech) and green finance. While financial inclusion in the Gulf Cooperation Council is much higher, the other countries in the MENA region have yet to overcome this trend, and the second part of the book provides specific case studies of ways in which banks have contributed to the region. The final section of the book considers macroeconomic factors and financial development. Together these perspectives enrich the discussion of facts and development challenges in the finance and banking of the MENA region as a whole.