The functioning of the banking sector is key for economic growth. In this paper, we first gather banks' balance sheet monthly regulatory information in a consistent manner for seven Latin American countries. Second, we estimate lending markups and deposits markdowns in each country over time....

We show that public guaranteed loans (PGL) increase credit availability improving real effects, but private banks' incentives imply that weaker banks shift riskier corporate loans to taxpayers. We exploit credit register data during the COVID-19 shock in Spain, and a stylized model guides the...

In the data envelopment analysis (DEA) literature, productivity change captured by the Malmquist productivity index, especially in terms of a deterministic environment and stochastic variability in inputs and outputs, has been somewhat ignored. Therefore, this study developed a frm-specifc,...

Recognizing the growing importance of gender diversity in corporate governance, this study delves into the impact of women directors' attributes on earnings management. Focusing on listed banks in the Indonesia Stock Exchange, we hand-collect women directors' profiles from 2017 to 2021. Notably,...

Geographic expansion negatively impacts bank outcomes during recessions. While increases in average bank-to-branch distance for a given bank have a small positive impact on bank performance, increases in average bank-to-branch distance across all banks negatively impact performance as a result...

Much of the economic analysis of banking crises focuses on the interplay between concentration and stability. A common theory is that concentration is associated with greater stability, whereas competition is associated with instability. In this view, there is a trade-off between, on the one...

We make a comparison of microfinance banks (MBs) and commercial banks (CBs) in terms of efficiency, business orientation, stability, and asset quality by analyzing a large sample of banks from 60 countries around the world. Our findings indicate that microfinance banks have higher...

Since ancient times the practices and ethics of bankers and banking in general have undergone a great deal of criticism. While lending is motivated by profit, and while households are not explicitly coerced into borrowing money, the justice of a system which exploits workers and at the same time...

We investigate how the presence of physical bank branches moderates financial technology diffusion. Our identification strategy uses services suspensions caused by criminal groups that perform hit-and-run raids exploding branch facilities and rendering them inoperable for months. We show that...

Uruguay implemented an ambitious financial inclusion program that included a fiscal stimulus through VAT rebates and subsidies for point of sale (POS) adoption. One of its main provisions banned cash payment of wages and social benefits and forced financial institutions to open wage-accounts...

Concerns regarding social and environmental issues have become a pervasive aspect of economic relationships, prompting banks' role in social-environmental sustainability to occupy a growing share in the economic debate. Nevertheless, what is the relationship between bank behavior and sustainable...

The modernization theory forecasts a sharp declining effect of institutionalized religion on human behavior owing to the extensive economic development. However, this prediction is rejected and proved that religious values and beliefs have a pervasive influence on individual conduct. Based on...

The effective use of digital technologies to create business value has generated enormous data, and using data in decision-making is vital. Although there is growing empirical evidence in favour of a positive association between informed decision-making and firm performance in developed...