Modeling the efficiency of Tunisian and Moroccan banks using the SFA approach

Author(s):  
Hela Kallel ◽  
Salah Ben Hamad ◽  
Mohamed Triki

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate and compare bank efficiency between the two Maghreb countries, Tunisia and Morocco, over the period 2005–2014. Design/methodology/approach The authors follow the stochastic frontier analysis, where the preferred cost model is determined via various hypothesis tests based on the maximum likelihood estimation. Then, the first and the second derivates of the cost function are employed to determine scale elasticities, scale inefficiencies and technological progress. Findings Specification tests indicate that the Fourier Flexible form provides better fit to the data set. Further, the estimated model shows that Tunisian and Moroccan banks’ efficiency is positively affected by banking service quality, but negatively influenced by both bank capitalization and GDP growth. Overall, Moroccan banks are found to be the most efficient despite the decrease of efficiency levels in both countries. Additionally, foreign banks have a higher scale inefficiency and, therefore, a lower cost efficiency. Equally, the technical progress raises banking costs in both countries, providing a decrease in efficiency scores. Practical implications The findings of this study provide novel insights to Tunisian and Moroccan policy makers on the relevance of the smaller banks’ consolidation to improve bank efficiency by achieving unrealized economies of scale. Also, more reforms should be implemented in Tunisia to reduce non-performing loans. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first which offers a comparison between Tunisian and Moroccan banks to clarify the sources of inefficiency and to make strategic decisions.

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kanishka Gupta ◽  
T.V. Raman

PurposeIntellectual capital (IC) has been recognized in improving the efficiency of businesses and gaining competitive edge in the developed world. The present study offers perspectives into the effect of IC on the efficiency of the Indian financial sector companies.Design/methodology/approachFor the purpose of evaluating efficiency, the research has used stochastic frontier analysis (SFA). All Indian financial sector companies listed in National Stock Exchange (NSE-500) for the timeframe of ten years (2008–2018) have been considered. The paper has employed modified Pulic's Value Added Intellectual Coefficient (VAICTM) as a proxy to measure IC. Correlation and panel data regression have been used in order to examine the relationship.FindingsThe results of the study indicate positive and significant relationship between IC and efficiency of the firm. The results also show that all the components of IC, that is, human capital, relational capital, process capital and capital employed have a significant impact on firms' efficiency. Additionally, it has been seen that sample companies do not invest in research and development leading to no innovation capital.Practical implicationsThe research will assist managers in managing and controlling the IC, investors in matters related to investment and financial experts in improving the company's IC and value creation.Originality/valueThe current research is one of the pioneering studies in the context of Indian financial sector that examines the impact of modified VAIC on operational efficiency calculated using SFA.


Author(s):  
Mukole Kongolo

This study measured technical efficiency and its determinants in maize production by small-scale producers in Mwanza region, using a stochastic frontier production function approach. A randomly selected sample of participants in the two districts was used. The Maximum Likelihood estimation procedure was followed to obtain the determinants of technical efficiency and technical efficiency levels of small-scale maize producers. The minimum and maximum values of technical efficiency were between 20% and 91%, indicating that the least practices of specific producer operates at a minimum level of 20%, while the best practice producers  operate  at 91% technical efficiency  level respectively. The summary results of the mean technical efficiency was 63%. The main determinants of technical efficiency were labour, farm size, producer’s experience, producer’s age, family size which were all positive and statistically significant. The findings suggest that the average efficiency of small-scale maize producers could be improved by 37% through better use of existing resources and technology. These findings highlight the need for action by government to assist small-scale maize producers improve efficiency.


Author(s):  
Sailesh Tanna ◽  
Hodian Urio ◽  
Ibrahim Yousef

This study investigates the impact of bank mergers and acquisitions (M&As) on bank efficiency and how such efficiencies are expected to influence bank shareholder value upon merger announcements. It employs stochastic frontier analysis and event study methods along with regression analysis to account for the influences of pre-merger and post-merger efficiencies of bidders and targets in assessing their impact on bidder abnormal returns. Using data for a sample of large commercial bank M&As from 22 European countries, the authors find that bank bidders achieve short-term shareholder value gains from merger announcements, and this could be associated with the perceived efficiencies of bidders and targets. More generally, the evidence supports the view that bank profit efficiency has a positive influence on bidder returns from merger announcements, and therefore markets do take into account the importance of efficiency in value creation. This suggests that stock markets price operational efficiency of banks in predicting value gains from European Bank M&As.


2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (7) ◽  
pp. 1086-1107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ji Wu ◽  
Xian Cheng ◽  
Stephen Shaoyi Liao

Forecast combination has received a great deal of attention in the tourism domain. In this article, we propose a novel performance-based tourism forecast combination model by applying a multiple-criteria decision-making framework and the stochastic frontier analysis technique to determine combination weights for individual tourism forecast models. Thirteen time-series models are used to generate individual forecast tourism models, and five competing forecast combination models are selected to evaluate the forecast performance. Using the tourism forecast competition data set, we conclude that the proposed combination model significantly and statistically outperforms the five competing combination models in most cases based on multiple performance indicators. Our results show that the proposed model offers a good solution to identify optimal weights for individual tourism forecast models.


2011 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 629-654 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmet Faruk Aysan ◽  
Mustafa Mete Karakaya ◽  
Metin Uyanik

This paper examines the efficiency and its relation to profitability in Turkish banking sector by employing Panel Stochastic Frontier Approach. In the post crises period, extensive structural changes have taken place and a great number of new developments have occurred, affecting the efficiency of banking sector. This is the first study that employs panel stochastic frontier approach for banking efficiency in Turkey. In this research, both cost and profit efficiency measures are estimated for the panel data consisting of 32 banks between 2002–2007. Results suggest that there is cost efficiency gain and convergence in the efficiency levels of banks. As another interesting result, foreign banks are less efficient and state banks are more efficient. This paper also analyzes the relation between efficiency and profitability and finds no robust relation between them. However, the bank size matters more for profitability. Santrauka Autoriai nagrinėja Turkijos bankų veiklą, t. y. jų pelningumą bei efektyvumą pokriziniu laikotarpiu. Šis laikotarpis buvo pasirinktas todėl, kad atsirado daug įvairių struktūrinių pokyčių, kurie turėjo įtakos bankininkystės sektoriaus efektyvumui. Tyrimui buvo pasirinkti 32 Turkijoje veikiantys bankai (jų veiklos rodikliai prieš ekonominę krizę ir po jos). Rezultatai rodo, kad Turkijoje veikiančių užsienio komercinių bankų veikla yra mažiau efektyvesnė nei valstybinių. Taip pat autoriai analizuoja bankų veiklos efektyvumo ir pelningumo santykį, tačiau, kaip rodo gauti rezultatai, stipraus ryšio tarp jų nėra.


2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 224-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bereket Zerai Gebremichael ◽  
Hailemichael Tesfay Gessesse

Purpose The paper aims to evaluate the technical efficiency of African Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) and examine if there is performance difference by ownership type. Design/methodology/approach The paper applies stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) assuming that the translog production functions to estimate the technical efficiency of 134 Microfinance Institutions operating in 36 African countries. The parametric SFA is preferred over the non-parametric, as it captures the random and inefficiency effects. Though the suitable approach is SFA, for the purpose of consistency and robustness of the results, the alternative data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach is also run and the results are compared with those derived from SFA. Findings In our analysis we have found that African MFIs are technically inefficient. The average technical efficiency for the sample institutions is 0.489, which is quite low and suggests that on average, African MFIs are achieving only 48.9 per cent of the maximum achievable output. Our results also revealed the presence of significant technical inefficiencies with considerable differences in inefficiency among the MFIs. Further, we found statistically significant difference in the efficiency performance among the different ownership types of MFIs. More importantly, the NGO and non-bank financial institutions are relatively more efficient, while the cooperatives/credit unions are the least efficient. Research limitations/implications The study contributes to the continuing debate on the effect of ownership type on performance of institutions. Moreover, it indicates the importance of using certain approaches and complementing them with other alternatives for a better insight. Practical implications The study found that the least efficient type of MFIs are the cooperatives/credit unions. This might be related to the nature of these institutions where the members are owners and borrowers. This might affect efficiency negatively, although it may somehow address the agency problem. Originality/value This paper provides an evidence on efficiency performance of African MFIs, taking a large data set and applying SFA. DEA was also used to complement the SFA results. It provides useful empirical evidence and perspective on this important issue for policy makers and analysts.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 669-696
Author(s):  
Pavan Khetrapal

PurposeThe objective of the present study is to evaluate and analyse the performance of Indian electricity distribution utilities post the implementation of landmark Electricity Act 2003.Design/methodology/approachStochastic frontier analysis (SFA) that incorporates exogenous influences on operational efficiency is adopted in the present study. Specifically, a stochastic frontier production function model with a technical inefficiency effects model (Battese and Coelli, 1995) is chosen as a preferred model. In this model, the function that explains the inefficiency scores is estimated in a single stage with the production technology. This avoids the problem of inconsistency which is possible in the two-stage approach.FindingsThe sample involved 52 Indian electricity distribution utilities for seven-year period from 2006 to 2013. Major findings of SFA show that Indian electricity distribution utilities post the implementation of Electricity Act (2003) had, on average, experienced efficiency improvement during the observed period. The overall mean technical effciency score is estimated as 78.5% which indicates that there exist wide scope for effciency improvement in the sector. Further, the empirical findings also indicate that publicly owned distribution utilities obtain average technical efficiencies of 71.3%, which is lower than privately owned distribution utilities, which achieve average technical efficiencies of 85.7%.Research limitations/implicationsPower supply quality indicators such as SAIFI, SAIDI, CAIFI, etc. and unobserved heterogeneity also influence the efficiency analysis of electricity distribution utilities. Hence, these parameters as explanatory variables can be incorporated in the future work.Practical implicationsThe results obtained from this empirical study would likely be helpful for utility managers and policymakers to know how well they are performing, and how a better corporate strategy a particular utility can formulate to improve its operational efficiency and also its position in the marketplace.Originality/valueThis paper is amongst the first significant attempts that implement SFA approach to the panel dataset over a longer period of time – 2006 to 2013, so, as to evaluate and analyse the operational efficiency of Indian electricity distribution utilities in a single framework after the enactment of Electricity Act (2003). Unlike previous studies, this study investigates the degree to which various exogenous (or environmental) factors influence efficiency levels in these utilities.


2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 209-227
Author(s):  
Phong Hoang Nguyen ◽  
Duyen Thi Bich Pham

PurposeThe paper aims to enrich previous findings for an emerging banking industry such as Vietnam, reporting the difference between the parametric and nonparametric methods when measuring cost efficiency. The purpose of the study is to assess the consistency in issuing policies to improve the cost efficiency of Vietnamese commercial banks.Design/methodology/approachThe cost efficiency of banks is assessed through the data envelopment analysis (DEA) and the stochastic frontier analysis (SFA). Next, five tests are conducted in succession to analyze the differences in cost efficiency measured by these two methods, including the distribution, the rankings, the identification of the best and worst banks, the time consistency and the determinants of efficiency frontier. The data are collected from the annual financial statements of Vietnamese banks during 2005–2017.FindingsThe results show that the cost efficiency obtained under the SFA models is more consistent than under the DEA models. However, the DEA-based efficiency scores are more similar in ranking order and stability over time. The inconsistency in efficiency characteristics under two different methods reminds policy makers and bank administrators to compare and select the appropriate efficiency frontier measure for each stage and specific economic conditions.Originality/valueThis paper shows the need to control for heterogeneity over banking groups and time as well as for random noise and outliers when measuring the cost efficiency.


2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thanh Ngo ◽  
David Tripe

Purpose This paper aims to examine alternative methods for treating nonperforming loans (NPLs) in bank cost-efficiency studies using stochastic frontier analysis (SFA). Design/methodology/approach The authors consider three methods of treating NPLs in SFA: as an additional control variable, as an environmental factor or as a deduction from total loans. Using data from the Vietnamese banking system (2003-2010), the authors then compare these results with those of the base model (where total loans is used regardless of the NPLs) to see which one is more appropriate for this study. Findings The authors observed that the first two methods are inappropriate for the analysis: one cannot find the significant relationship between NPLs and the banks’ total cost, and the other cannot account for any inefficiency at all. The authors suggested that the third method of separating NPLs from total loans can provide better insights. Using the proposed method, the authors showed that the cost-efficiency of Vietnamese banks over the period examined was moderate with a slight decreasing trend. When NPLs are separated, the cost-efficiency decreases in state-owned banks and big banks, whereas it increases in small and private banks. Research limitations/implications Research is limited to Vietnamese banks during a certain period, and it would be useful to apply the same technique to other data sets. Practical implications The paper suggests a new approach to account for NPLs in cost SFA studies in banking. Originality/value The paper provides a much more searching analysis of NPLs in banking than has generally been seen in previous research.


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