Persistent and transient inefficiency: Explaining the low efficiency of Chinese big banks
Fungáčová, Zuzana; Klein, Paul-Olivier; Weill, Laurent (20.07.2018)
Numero
16/2018Julkaisija
Bank of Finland
2018
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:bof-201807241710Tiivistelmä
Considering the evidence that China’s five largest state-owned banks (the Big Five) suffer from low cost efficiency, this paper decomposes overall efficiency of Chinese banks into: persistent efficiency and transient efficiency components. Low persistent efficiency reflects structural problems, while low transient efficiency is associated with short-term problems. Using the model of Kumbhakar, Lien and Hardaker (2014) based on the stochastic frontier approach, we measure persistent efficiency and transient efficiency for a large sample of 166 Chinese banks over the period 2008–2015. In line with existing evidence, we find a lower average cost efficiency of Big Five banks compared to other Chinese banks. It is almost entirely due to low persistent cost efficiency. Big Five transient efficiency is similar to other Chinese banks. Our findings support the view that major structural reforms are needed to enhance the efficiency of China’s Big Five banks.
Julkaisuhuomautus
Published in China Economic Review 2020 ; 59 ; February.