Instruments for implementing China's economic interests in the developing countries on the example of Sub-Saharan Africa

The article examines Chinas foreign economic policy in the developing countries of Sub-Saharan Africa. The purpose of the study is to determine what financial and nonfinancial instruments the PRC uses to implement its economic interests in the region. The relevance of the study is due to the increased role of China in the economies of the region, its active investment and lending policy, which in theory can lead to the emergence of debt traps, and the spread of soft power. To determine the scale of interaction, a general statistical analysis of trade and economic cooperation between the PRC and the countries of the region is provided, and its structure is determined. The institutional framework is studied, for example, the China - Africa Cooperation Forum, and the main instruments which are used to implement the economic interests of the PRC are given, such as the Belt and Road Initiative and investments within its framework, credit policy, assistance in the creation of SEZ, individual elements of soft power. The systematization of such instruments makes it possible to assess Chinas place in the region in more detail and identify potential risks for developing countries. The implications of the utilization of such instruments in the context of the economic development and economic security of African countries are determined based on the results of the study.

Responsible Lending Policy of Green Investments in the Energy Sector in Poland

The paper concerns the issue of responsible involvement of commercial banks in Poland in green financing of the energy sector. The main reason for undertaking this topic is the observed increased interest of domestic banks in green financing of investments on the energy market in Poland. Therefore, the main objective are to explore the determinants of changes in the level and structure of bank loans under the influence of green investments in the energy sector in Poland. The article verifies the research hypothesis which assumes that an increase in financing green investments by bank loans in the energy market in Poland requires strengthening the synergy of responsible financing of sustainable development of the economy. For this purpose, a two-stage concept of the empirical research was adopted. On the first stage, questionnaire surveys were conducted among the largest Polish commercial banks to examine the respondents’ acceptance degree of the concept of sustainable financing and greening the loan portfolio. On the second stage, case studies were analyzed along with the analysis of selected secondary quantitative data. It was proven that commercial banks in Poland increase their commitment to sustainable financing, which is observed in the sectorally progressing process of “greening” the credit offer. There is also a noticeable change in their approach to social responsibility, especially in the context of the energy market, where financing of traditional, ecologically harmful projects is still dominant. However, this trend is slowly being reversed, towards supporting investments in the area of modern, environmentally-friendly energy solutions. However, “greening” of loan portfolios in the native banking sector requires a responsible lending policy based on various complex business decisions. Increasing their pro-ecological awareness of financing the economy is only a prerequisite, albeit inadequate, of further energy transformation in Poland.

Analyzing governance challenges using Process Net-Map: a case study of a government microcredit scheme in Bangladesh

Purpose This paper aims to examine the governance challenges confronted by a government microcredit program in Bangladesh following a case study approach. Design/methodology/approach A novel qualitative research tool called process net-map (PNM) was applied to develop a framework for visual understanding of the exact credit implementation process and to identify the actors responsible for creating governance challenges. Key informant interviews were also conducted to identify and distinguish the challenges faced by both the supply-side and demand-side stakeholders. Findings The findings reveal that the studied case faced problems in allocating adequate resources to human and physical capacity development. It was combined with the shortage of funds that made it impossible to meet the clients’ expectations. The lack of legal and regulatory framework disabled the organization from controlling political influence and corruption in the system. Moreover, the policy of lending only to groups proved counterproductive as it led to the exclusion of potentially viable borrowers. Practical implications The key recommendation of the study is on increasing the microcredit fund and a reform of the group lending policy along with several other recommendations. Originality/value The PNM is a newly developed participatory mapping technique that has not been applied in the field of microfinance. Therefore, the use of this method may add new knowledge of conducting an in-depth analysis of why such challenges are associated with mostly public microfinance programs and how they are linked to the implementation process. The challenges encountered are relevant for the implementation of developmental programs that are dependent on the allocation of public funds.

Deprived Sector Lending and Non-Performing Loans in Nepal

This study investigates the empirical impact of deprived sector lending on the nonperforming loans of commercial banks in Nepal using secondary data collected from 27 commercial banks from the fiscal year 2009 to 2018 with 262 observations. The study employed the OLS regression method for the robustness test of the result. The study establishes empirical relation between deprived sector lending and nonperforming loan of banks which was the major motivation of this study. The basic regression result shows that beta coefficient of DSL is negative which indicates higher the ratio of deprived sector lending, the lower would be the NPL and vice-versa. Similarly, this study also examines the DSL movement's impact on NPL. The result shows that the beta coefficient of ∆DSL is significantly negative with ∆NPL. This indicates that the higher the growth of DSL, the lower would be NPL growth and vice-versa. This shows that the influence of DSL is very low as per this empirical result. Overall, the study shows there is an inverse relationship between deprived sector lending and nonperforming loan of banks. The result indicates that the remark of commercial bank’s on the deprived sector lending policy of NRB is not true. The operational cost might increase with direct lending to deprive sector and that leads to decrease in the bank’s overall profit but not increases their NPL.

International Organizations Lending Policy, are There Strings Attached? A Case Study From the Latest Wave of Reforms in the Albanian Social Security System

Pension policy reform in post-communist countries received attention from most international organizations since the early 1990s. Accordingly, Albania has implemented comprehensive liberalization and privatization of the state sector since transitioning to a market economy. This study will look at the impact that the European Union (EU), the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund had in guiding the Albanian state-run social security system toward principles of decentralization, liberalization and privatization. Specifically, social security reforms between 2009 to 2019 will be examined, along with a focus on the side-effect of the conditions imposed by the three organizations. A mixed-method including literature review and secondary data analysis will empirically evidence growing inequality, with senior citizens poverty rate sharply rising due to reforms in social security. Our conclusions will argue that closer ties with the EU will keep social security in its current form, as the EU does not push for a specific pension system, while the World Bank policy influence will lose ground, thus freeing Albania from periodic social security reforms.

The European Investment Bank’s ‘Quantum Leap’ to Become the World’s First International Climate Bank

In November 2019, the European Investment Bank (EIB) announced its ‘metamorphosis’ into a ‘Climate Bank.’ Associated with the EU’s Green Deal, presented a month later, the EIB claimed to be the first international climate bank and a front runner in the EU’s priority climate agenda. The EIB is mandated through the treaties to support EU policymakers. However, with its ‘makeover,’ the EIB also announced the launch of a new climate strategy and energy lending policy, ending fossil fuel financing after 2021. It is thus valuable to examine the question of whether the EIB has developed into a policymaker, and if so, how this can be best understood. In exploring this question, this article follows a principal-agent approach, attempting to discern the rational interests behind organisational rhetoric and posits that the EIB’s claimed transformation hints at a type of policymaking activism, exploiting a policy window to serve the EIB’s rational interests in a strained political and market contest. This represents a paradigm shift in the EIB’s institutional behaviour and rhetoric within the EU governance constellation and is, in fact, in this sense a ‘quantum leap’ as suggested by the EIB. However, it remains to be seen if the bank’s metrics will prove a bold departure from their current activity or simply another adaptation to a policy field of intense interest to the EU, as has occurred on several occasions in the past.

A Theory of Collateral for the Lender of Last Resort*

We consider a macroprudential approach to analyze the optimal lending policy for the central bank, focusing on spillover effects that policy exerts on money markets. Lending against high-quality collateral protects central banks against losses, but can adversely affect liquidity creation in markets since high-quality collateral gets locked up with the central bank rather than circulating in markets. Lending against low-quality collateral creates counterparty risk but can improve liquidity in markets. We illustrate the optimal policy incorporating these trade-offs. Contrary to what is generally accepted, lending against high-quality collateral can have negative effects, whereas it may be optimal to lend against low-quality collateral.

A Study on Financial Performance of the Jordanian Commercial Banks using the CAMEL Model and Panel Data Approach

The purpose of this research paper is to extensively investigate and examine the effect of the CAMEL model variables on the profitability and financial soundness of the thirteen Jordanian commercial banks for the period of 2013 to 2019, the primary data were collected from the published audited financial reports of the Jordanian commercial banks. The study uses CAMEL model variables of Capital adequacy, Asset Quality, Management efficiency, Earnings ability, and Liquidity management to rank banks as per their overall performance and measuring their effect on banks’ profitability measures of Return on Assets and Return on Equity separately through applying the fixed effect regression model. It is concluded that the ranking approach shows that Bank of Jordan was in the top position followed by the Capital Bank of Jordan. Jordan Ahli Bank was in the lowest rank in most positions. Furthermore, the empirical results indicates that Non-Interest Income to Total Assets and Net Interest Income to Total Loans and Advances have significant positive relationships with both profitability measures whereas cost to Total Income and Non-Interest Income to Total Assets have strong negative relationships with the profitability measures. In addition, Equity to Total Assets has strong negative relationship with ROE. The study suggests that Jordanian commercial banks can improve their profitability through the concentration on main activities, efficiently managing their capital adequacy, maintaining high quality level of lending policy, and utilization of full assets. Additionally, the current study recommends conducting more studies on banks’ performance determinants with an expanded scope and using more financial models besides the CAMEL model.

LENDING IN AGRICULTURE IN THE COUNTRIES OF THE EURASIAN ECONOMIC UNION: EXPERIENCE AND PROBLEMS

The article examines the issues of public support and its impact on the development of agricultural production in the context of integration of national economies. The agro-industrial complex is one of the most important strategic sectors of the member countries of the Eurasian Economic Union. Despite functioning in the conditions of turbulence of the world commodity markets, in agricultural sphere of the EAEU there are currently positive trends. The role of the lending system in AIC complex, contributing to the solution of the problems of financial support of agricultural producers, is considered. The objective need for lending support for agriculture is due to a number of reasons, the main of which are the peculiarities of agricultural production, inequality in the exchange of goods with industry, the need to overcome negative trends in development of the industry. The assessment of the lending policy in agricultural sector, which is focused on a narrow circle of borrowers, does not contain effective mechanisms for lending to economic entities, is limited in the choice of methods for determining the level of creditworthiness of agricultural enterprises and ways to assist in obtaining loans to farms in different economic situations. Based on the analysis of lending to agro-industrial production of the EAEU countries, the existing problems of recent years are shown. In the final part, the authors formulate the prospects for strengthening integration ties within the Eurasian Economic Union. Recommendations on improving lending system, contributing to the effective development of agro-industrial complex of each country, improving economic relations in domestic and foreign markets are presented.

Specifics of using credit banking instruments in conditions of the Russian banking system development

Subject. Uncertainty and risks of the banking system development have increased against the background of identified inefficient credit and payment instruments. The conceptual framework for the said system development includes not only the State support to backbone banks, but also establishing the cause-effect relationship between the offered banking product and the service, and the conditions and legal grounds stipulated for banks, having basic and universal licenses. Objectives. The purpose is to identify the specifics of banking operations related to credit products, considering the changes in distribution of payment instruments of banks in the credit card market. Methods. The study employs empirical and theoretical methods, like formalization, observation, comparison, test of cause and effect relationships. The systems approach forms a basis of the study. Results. I consider conditions for obtaining the government support for targeted loans, including the participation in major innovative projects and programs and the need to balance financing for the acquisition of intangible assets through subsidized interest rates on loans. It is recommended to introduce the concept of ‘credit banking instruments’ for scientific and economy-related purposes. Conclusions. Improving the efficiency of the use of credit banking instruments should be implemented on the basis of a comprehensive system of preventing financial losses, diversification of loan portfolio and optimization of payments with bank card holders, taking into account the lending policy, formed in the context of activities of a particular federal district and the subject of the Russian Federation.