How Do Banks Set their Capital?

Awdeh, Ali and Hamadi, Hassan (2011): How Do Banks Set their Capital? Published in: Journal of Money, Investment and Banking No. 21 (2011): pp. 88-105.

Abstract

We have analysed the determinants of capital for banks operating in the Lebanese market between 1994 and 2008. We firstly found that the subsidiaries of foreign banks hold significantly lower capital than their domestic counterparties and the institutional ownership has a productive impact on domestic bank capital. Secondly, the capital of domestic banks is shaped differently from that of foreign banks. For instance, the host market capital regulation is more binding for domestic banks than foreign banks. Besides, domestic banks use their capitalization level to signal, unlike foreign banks that rely on their reputation. Finally, regarding the cyclicality of bank capital, this only applies for domestic banks, whereas foreign bank capital does not follow the economic cycle of the host market.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Bank capital; Capital requirements; Foreign banks.
• Subjects: G - Financial Economics > G2 - Financial Institutions and Services > G21 - Banks ; Depository Institutions ; Micro Finance Institutions ; Mortgages; G - Financial Economics > G3 - Corporate Finance and Governance > G32 - Financing Policy ; Financial Risk and Risk Management ; Capital and Ownership Structure ; Value of Firms ; Goodwill

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