scholarly journals Intermediation Efficiency of Banks in South-East Europe

Author(s):  
Valentin Toci ◽  
Iraj Hashi

By employing non-parametric methods, namely Data Envelopment Analysis and Malmquist Index, this paper investigates efficiency of banks using a database of almost all banks in four countries in South-East Europe. The superior efficiency of foreignowned banks in intermediation is supported. It is argued that the improvement in efficiency of banks originated from the change in technology rather than scale and technical efficiency, and banks on average have not been able to catch-up with best-performers, thus widening the efficiency gap. The largest sources of inefficiency are found to be cost and scale inefficiencies and lending shortfalls. Because of its peculiarities, Kosovo banking sector is assessed relative to other economies. Findings suggest that despite some improvements, the banking system in Kosovo remained less efficient. A number of policy implications emanate from the findings, aiming at enhancing the intermediation efficiency of banks in the context of South-East European transition.

Author(s):  
Albulena Shala ◽  
Hysen Ismajli ◽  
Rezearta Perri

This paper has been prepared to describe the regulatory measures regarding Loan classification and provisioning of South East Europe countries like Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia. A proper loan classification and provisioning system ensures credibility of the financial system that in turn restores trust and confidence in the mind of depositors. Determining what constitutes an adequate level of provisions to absorb credit losses is often subject of debate between banks and supervisors, as changes in provisioning estimate an immediate impact in bank earnings and, eventually, regulatory capital. A comparative analysis in this study between South East Europe (SEE) countries shows that countries have the regulatory measures which correspond with international standards. However, the criteria for classifying and provisioning loan portfolios depend on the prudential policies of the central banks. In the area of NPL definition, we find that almost all of the countries in the region have some type of asset classification system in place covering all types of borrowers. Non performing exposures in the region are generally defined three criteria: 90 days past due status, borrower bankruptcy, and the significant financial difficulty of the borrower. Countries with the highest rate of non‑performing loans (2005–2015) are Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, while the countries with the highest percentage of coverage with provisions are: Kosovo, Macedonia and Serbia.


Author(s):  
Viral V. Acharya ◽  
Tim Eisert ◽  
Christian Eufinger ◽  
Christian Hirsch

This chapter compares the recapitalizations of the Japanese banking sector in the 1990s with those in the ongoing European debt crisis. The analysis points to four main policy implications. First, recapitalizing banks by insuring or purchasing troubled assets alone is not likely to solve the problem of banks’ weak capitalization, as this measure is not able to adjust the extent of the recapitalization to the banks’ specific needs. Second, the amount of the recapitalization should be based on actual capital shortages and not risk-weighted assets to avoid banks decreasing their loan supply. Third, banks should face restrictions regarding the amount of dividends they are allowed to pay out. Finally, banks must be induced to clean up their balance sheets and reduce the amount of bad (non-performing) loans to rebuild confidence in the European banking system.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gergana Mihaylova-Borisova ◽  

The economies are once again facing the challenges of another crisis related to the spread of coronavirus in 2020. The banking sector, being one of the main intermediaries in the economies, is also affected by the spread of the new crisis, which is different compared to the previous crises such as the global financial crisis in 2008 and the European debt crisis in 2012-2013. Still, the banking sector in Bulgaria suffers from the pandemic crisis due to decelerated growth rate of loans, provided to households and non-financial enterprises, as well as declining profits related to the narrowing spread between interest rates on loans and deposits. The pandemic crisis, which later turned into an economic one, is having a negative impact on the efficiency of the banking system. To prove the negative impact of the pandemic crisis on the efficiency of banks, the non-parametric method for measuring the efficiency, the so-called Data envelopment analysis (DEA), is used.


Author(s):  
Francisco Vargas Serrano ◽  
Luis Rentería Guerrero ◽  
Gang Cheng ◽  
Panagiotis D. Zervopoulos ◽  
Arnulfo Castellanos Moreno

This chapter presents an attempt to compare the productivity of the Mexican banking sector in two different periods: the 2007-2011 period of global financial crisis and the 2003-2006 stage, which can be regarded as a relatively stable period. The purpose of this study is to disclose whether the global financial crisis affected Mexican banking productivity. Three Data Envelopment Models (DEA) are tested in order to assess whether there is a significant difference between the productivity patterns of Mexican banks before and after the financial crisis. Such models are the radial Malmquist Index, the non-radial and slacks-based model, and non-radial and non-oriented. Essentially, no significant difference of productivity indicators for both foreign and domestic banks was found. Likewise, no significant difference between the pre- and post-crisis periods was perceived, as far as productivity indicators are concerned. Therefore, the global financial crisis was effectless in banking operation.


Diversity ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beatrice Belfiori ◽  
Valentina D’Angelo ◽  
Claudia Riccioni ◽  
Marco Leonardi ◽  
Francesco Paolocci ◽  
...  

The ectomycorrhizal fungus Tuber magnatum produces the white truffle appreciated worldwide for its unique aroma. With respect to other Tuber spp. of economic interest, T. magnatum presents a narrower geographical range. This species has, in fact, long been considered endemic to Italy. However, over the last few decades several reports have documented the presence of white truffles in different Mediterranean countries and in particular in various areas of south-east Europe. In this study, samples from several Pannonian and Balkan countries such as Hungary, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria and Greece have been collected and genotyped with microsatellite markers and the data merged with those available for Italian populations. Our objectives were to test whether Italian and south-east European populations are differentiated and to evaluate the genetic diversity of T. magnatum all over its distributional range. We show the genetic structure of T. magnatum populations with the differentiation of four main groups: northern Italy, central-northern Italy, southern Italy and the Balkan/Pannonian region. The present study allowed us to refine the evolutionary history of T. magnatum and track the possible post-glacial expansion route of this species. The assessment of T. magnatum’s genetic structure is not only of scientific relevance, but it is also important for the conservation and market traceability of this prestigious fungus.


2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 474-487 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emilio Martín ◽  
Alfredo Bachiller ◽  
Patricia Bachiller

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyse the performance of Spanish banking entities between 2009 and 2013, a period marked by the reform of the banking system with a large number of mergers and integrations. Design/methodology/approach First, efficiency is measured applying the data envelopment analysis (DEA) methodology and, then, the Malmquist index is calculated to assess its evolution. Findings The results show that most of the entities have improved their performance from the production approach. However, from the intermediation approach, the efficiency of the sample has deteriorated, which raises questions about the sustainability of the traditional banking business when the current credit restriction strategy is long lasting. Practical implications The comparative analysis demonstrates that, after the deep reforms carried out in Spain, the banking entities maintain similar efficiency rankings to those they had at the beginning of the period analysed. This shows that the reform has created new groups that operate adequately, avoiding the closing of institutions. Despite the better rationalisation of the available resources, the outlook for Spanish banks remains unclear in the current macroeconomic context, which does not favour the banking business. Originality/value The study contributes to the literature on the Spanish banking system because it adds new empirical evidence about its restructuring and it applies a DEA model to a sample before and after mergers. The authors discuss theoretical and managerial implications and offer suggestions for future research on this field.


2019 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Vilenica ◽  
Natalija Vučković ◽  
Zlatko Mihaljević

Man-made freshwater habitats have been widely used to successfully modify the environment for human benefit, including purposes of irrigation, flood control or electricity generation. Over the past decade, our knowledge about the mayfly fauna and its ecology in South-East Europe has been growing, yet the data related to lentic assemblages remain very scarce. In this study, littoral mayfly assemblages were investigated at artificial and heavily modified lentic habitats in the Dinaric Western Balkan (n=21) and Pannonian Lowland (n=15) ecoregions. Mayfly nymphs were sampled during the summer months of 2016 or 2017. At each sampling site, ten samples were collected using a benthos hand net. A total of 21 mayfly species were recorded, though species richness per site was rather low (i.e., between zero and seven species). Cloeon dipterum (Linnaeus, 1761) was the most frequent species recorded, while Caenis horaria Linnaeus, 1758 was the most abundant. This study showed that the Croatian mayfly fauna is still growing, with the first record of Siphlonurus aestivalis Eaton, 1903 for the country. The assemblage structure was mainly dominated by lower reaches and lentic (potamal and littoral) elements and detritivores (gatherers/collectors and active filter feeders). Orthophosphates and chemical oxygen demand had the highest influence on mayfly assemblages, reflecting a higher level of pollution at sites in the Pannonian Lowland ecoregion, and consequently markedly lower mayfly abundances. As mayflies are widely used as bioindicators of freshwater ecosystems, detailed information about their assemblages in heavily modified and artificial habitats could contribute to future conservation activities of freshwater habitats and their communities. Additionally, these results could be applied in creating a monitoring system for artificial lakes according to the requirements of the European Water Framework Directive.


2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias Morys

This article documents and analyses monetary reform in Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia and Romania from 1815 (Serbian autonomy within the Ottoman Empire) to 1910, when Greece became the last country in the region to join the gold standard. It explains the five key steps towards monetary reform which the four countries took in the same chronological order, and asks why national coinage and the foundation of a bank of note issue came late in the reform process. The South-East European countries tried to emulate West European prototypes, yet economic backwardness meant such institutions were often different from the outset, remained short-lived or both.


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