The determinants of capital buffer in the macedonian banking sector

Capital buffer is the excess of capital that banks have above the legally prescribed minimum and has a very important role for preserving the stability of the banking sector, especially in economies where banks are the main source of funding. The capital buffer of banks is very important to maintain their solvency, and to maintain the potential for unconstrained provision of loans in the economy. From this perspective, the question that arises is: which factors determine its movement? The econometric analysis in this paper is made by the use of the Johansen cointegration technique (Vector Error Correction Model - VECM) applied to quarterly time series of the banking sector, covering the period from 2003Q2 to 2013Q3. The findings of this study suggest that the capital buffer of the banking sector in the Republic of Macedonia is determined by the credit risk, market risk and profitability. The recommendations provided in this paper are that prudent measures to maintain the stability of banks in the country be taken.