CREDIT RISK AND BANK COMPETITION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Michael Brei, Luc Jacolin and Alphonse Noah

Abstract: This paper investigates the impact of bank competition in Sub-Saharan Africa on bank non-performing loans, a measure of credit risk. Using bank-level data for a sample of 221 banks from 33 countries over the period 2000-15, we find a non-linear or U-shaped relationship between bank competition and credit risk. In other words, increased bank competition has the potential to lower credit risk via efficiency gains (lower credit cost, operational gains). However, the positive effects may be outweighed by adverse effects of excessive competition (lower profit margins, increased risk incentives). We also find that credit risk in Sub-Saharan Africa is not only related to macroeconomic determinants, such as growth, public debt, economic concentration, financial deepening and inclusion, but also to the business and regulatory environment. These results may provide useful insights on how to design and adapt prudential and regulatory frameworks to the specific needs in developing countries.

Keywords: Bank competition; credit risk; bank stability; Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-04141785
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Related works:
Journal Article: Credit risk and bank competition in Sub-Saharan Africa (2020)
Working Paper: Credit Risk and Bank Competition in Sub-Saharan Africa (2020)
Working Paper: Credit risk and bank competition in Sub-Saharan Africa (2018)
Working Paper: CREDIT RISK AND BANK COMPETITION IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA (2018)
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