Measuring the Degree of Competition in the Arab Banking Systems

Awdeh, Ali and Salloum, Ahmad and El Hokayem, Elie (2013): Measuring the Degree of Competition in the Arab Banking Systems. Published in: International Research Journal of Finance and Economics No. 107 (2013): pp. 39-49.

Abstract

The Arab banking sectors are characterised by high level of concentration, which could have a negative impact on competition and the competitive behaviour of banks according to the Structure-Conduct-Performance paradigm. Using a flexible translog revenue function, we found that high concentration has not provided Arab banks with significant market power. Besides, we found a higher competitive behaviour of banks operating in Lebanon, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE than in the other Arab countries.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Banking; Competition; Panzar-Rosse Model, Market Structure.
• Subjects: D - Microeconomics > D4 - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design > D40 - General; E - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics > E5 - Monetary Policy, Central Banking, and the Supply of Money and Credit > E52 - Monetary Policy; G - Financial Economics > G2 - Financial Institutions and Services > G21 - Banks ; Depository Institutions ; Micro Finance Institutions ; Mortgages

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