This paper examines the determinants of net interest margins in four regional blocks in Sub-Saharan Africa and one comparator block in the Eastern Caribbean. Using bank-level data, we find that countries with a high level of operating costs, a high ratio of equity to total assets and high...

This study examines the effect of financial-sector reform on bank performance in selected Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) countries in the period 1994 -2008. We evaluate bank efficiency in Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Lebanon and Tunisia by means of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and we...

Using a combination of propensity score matching and difference-in-difference techniques we investigate the impact of foreign bank ownership on the performance and market power of acquired banks operating in Central and Eastern Europe. This approach allows us to control for selection bias as...

This note assesses the impact of the global financial risks on Oman's banking system and highlights the remaining risks. It concludes that the liquidity and prudential measures introduced by the authorities mitigated the adverse effects of the crisis on the banking system. Banks continue to make...

This paper discusses key findings of the Financial System Stability Assessment (FSSA) for the Republic of Mozambique. As a result of a comprehensive financial sector reform program largely based on the 2003 Financial Sector Assessment Program recommendations, Mozambique has made significant...

Im Herbst 2008 war weltweit ein schnelles Handeln der Politik erforderlich, um den drohenden Kollaps des globalen Finanzsystems abzuwenden. Neben diesen alternativlosen Sofortmaßnahmen muss in der mittleren bis langen Frist der Finanzsektor reformiert werden. Eine verbesserte Stabilität soll...

We use bank level data to study the efficiency of banks in Sub-Saharan African middle-income countries and provide possible explanations for the difference in the efficiency levels of banks. We find that banks, on average, could save 20-30 percent of their total costs if they were operating...

Im Herbst 2008 war weltweit ein schnelles Handeln der Politik erforderlich, um den drohenden Kollaps des globalen Finanzsystems abzuwenden. Neben diesen alternativlosen Sofortmaßnahmen muss in der mittleren bis langen Frist der Finanzsektor reformiert werden. Eine verbesserte Stabilität soll...

Despite far-reaching banking sector reforms and a prolonged period of macroeconomic stability and strong economic growth, financial intermediation in Armenia has lagged behind other transition countries, and interest rate spreads have remained higher than in most Central and Eastern European...

This Selected Issues paper examines developments in Estonia’s expanding net external obligations, as well as in domestic income flows and balance sheets. The paper discusses external current account and net international investment positions. Domestic investment and saving and balance...