scholarly journals Effects of the financial crisis and low interest rate environment on interest rate pass-through in Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania

2021 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 551-567

Abstract In order for monetary policy’s interest rate channel to operate smoothly and effectively, the relevant retail interest rates of the real economy should react quickly and follow the movements of the prime rate. It has been observed that this connection has weakened since the financial crisis and it was suggested that the so called Weighted Average Cost of Liabilities (WACL) might be a better proxy for the banks’ marginal costs than the prime rate or interbank rate. In this study the WACL for Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania is calculated by applying cointegration tests and ARDL models. I examined whether their long-run relationships with the retail loan rates are more stable. Results: 1. Using the WACL instead of the interbank rate yields slightly more stable long-term relationships with the retail loan rates, and the WACL has been proved to be somewhat more stable than the interbank rate. 2. The interest rate pass-through has been efficient for the household loan rates in all three countries, but only in Romania for the corporate loan rates. 3. The results suggest that the central banks can effectively influence the commercial banks’ financing costs even in a low interest rate environment, although this cost represents only one component of the loan rates, and the movements of other components can offset the changes of the prime rate.

2009 ◽  
Vol 55 (No. 7) ◽  
pp. 347-356 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Poměnková ◽  
S. Kapounek

Monetary policy analysis concerns both the assumptions of the transmission mechanism and the direction of causality between the nominal (i.e. the money) and real economy. The traditional channel of monetary policy implementation works via the interest rate changes and their impact on the investment activity and the aggregate demand. Altering the relationship between the aggregate demand and supply then impacts the general price level and hence inflation. Alternatively, the Post-Keynesians postulate money as a residual. In their approach, banks credit in response to the movements in investment activities and demand for money. In this paper, the authors use the VAR (i.e. the vector autoregressive) approach applied to the “Taylor Rule” concept to identify the mechanism and impact of the monetary policy in the small open post-transformation economy of the Czech Republic. The causality (in the Granger sense) between the interest rate and prices in the Czech Republic is then identified. The two alternative modelling approaches are tested. First, there is the standard VAR analysis with the lagged values of interest rate, inflation and economic growth as explanatory variables. This model shows one way causality (in the Granger sense) between the inflation rate and interest rate (i.e. the inflation rate is (Granger) caused by the lagged interest rate). Secondly, the lead (instead of lagged) values of the interest rate, inflation rate and real exchange rate are used. This estimate shows one way causality between the inflation rate and interest rate in the sense that interest rate is caused by the lead (i.e. the expected future) inflation rate. The assumptions based on money as a residual of the economic process were rejected in both models.


2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (02) ◽  
Author(s):  
Prakash Anant Salvi ◽  
Davinder Kaur Suri

In India, prior to 1991, the tightly controlled interest rates caused impediments in the functioning of the interest rate channel of monetary policy transmission while after 1991, the RBI undertook various measures to strengthen the market-determination of interest rates. This paper has examined the evolution of the interest channel in India across the period 1985 to 2014 firstly by studying the interest rate pass-through using the Correlation matrix and the OLS technique and secondly, by studying the transmission of policy rates to the real economy using the reduced VAR model. The results show that the transmission of interest rates pass-through from policy rates to market interest rates (both - short-term as well as long-term) has strengthened while desired impact of long term market interest rates on industrial production and inflation appears to be weak.


2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (04) ◽  
pp. 1650026 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming-Hua Liu ◽  
Dimitris Margaritis ◽  
Zhuo Qiao

In this paper, we examine the impact of the global financial crisis (GFC) on the interest rate pass-through for four types of loans in Australia: mortgages, residentially secured small business lending, nonsecured small business lending and personal loans. Australia is an interesting case study since its central bank lowered but also raised interest rates during the GFC. We find that after the onset of the crisis, there has been a shift in the way banks adjust their lending rates in response to changes in market interest rates; the markup has increased and there has been a drop in both short- and long-term pass-through from funding costs to lending rates. Closer analysis indicates that the drop in short-term pass-through is due to the slower response of banks to increases in funding costs. We also find asymmetries in the way banks adjust lending rates in relation to funding costs in the long-run for nonsecured small business lending and personal loans. The evidence shows that banks in Australia tightened lending standards and competed less aggressively for loans but more for deposits in response to heightened default risks following the global financial crisis. The wider margin allows banks to adjust their lending rates more slowly and asymmetrically.


Ekonomika ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 90 (2) ◽  
pp. 28-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vytenis Lapinskas

The paper considers the pass-through of the interbank and retail interest rates for the case of Lithuania. The need for the interest rate transmission analysis has grown during the volatile market period caused by the global financial crisis. The objective of the article is to check theoretical and statistical aspects of domestic currency (litas) interest rate pass-through from interbank to retail interest rates and, specifically, to determine whether the recent global financial crisis has affected this process. Methods used in the article include a systemic analysis of related studies, historical data analysis and statistical testing. The analysis is expanded to cover the alternative interest rate-related variables in order to check the consistency of the pass-through of the litas interest rate over the period from October 2004 to December 2010. Results of the research show that though the lending interest rates have increased and the interest rate relationship has transformed over this period, there is no proof that changes in the bank interest rate setting policy has led to abnormal profits for banks.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-34
Author(s):  
Bijan Bidabad ◽  
Abul Hassan

Dynamic structural behavior of depositor, bank and borrower and the role of banks in forming business cycle are investigated. We test the hypothesis that does banks behavior make oscillations in the economy through the interest rate. By dichotomizing banking activities into two markets of deposit and loan, we show that these two markets have non-synchronized structures, and this is why the money sector fluctuation starts. As a result, the fluctuation is transmitted to the real economy through saving and investment functions. Empirical results assert that in the USA, the banking system creates fluctuations in the money sector and real economy as well through short-term interest rates


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Moses Nzuki Nyangu ◽  
Freshia Wangari Waweru ◽  
Nyankomo Marwa

PurposeThis paper examines the sluggish adjustment of deposit interest rate categories with response to policy rate changes in a developing economy.Design/methodology/approachSymmetric and asymmetric error correction models (ECMs) are employed to test the pass-through effect and adjustment speed of deposit rates when above or below their equilibrium levels.FindingsThe findings reveal an incomplete pass-through effect in both the short run and long run while mixed results of symmetric and asymmetric adjustment speed across the different deposit rate categories are observed. Collusive pricing arrangement behavior is supported by deposit rate categories that adjust more rigidly upwards than downwards, while negative customer reaction behavior is supported by deposit rate categories that adjust more rigidly downwards than upwards.Practical implicationsEven though the findings indicate an aspect of increased responsiveness over the period, the sluggish adjustment of deposit rates imply that monetary policy is still ineffective and not uniform across the different deposit rate categories.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to empirically examine both symmetric and asymmetric adjustment behavior of deposit interest rate categories in Kenya. The findings are key to policy makers as they provide insights on how long it takes to adjust different deposit rate categories to monetary policy decisions. In addition, the behavior of deposit rates partly explains why interest rates capping was imposed in Kenya in 2016.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Olli-Pekka Hilmola ◽  
Weidong Li ◽  
Andres Tolli

PurposeFor decades, it was emphasized that manufacturing and trading companies should aim to be lean with very small inventories. However, in the recent decade, time-significant change has taken place as nearly all of the “old west” countries have now low interest rates. Holding inventories have been beneficial for the sake of customer service and for achieving savings in transportation and fixed ordering costs.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, inventory management change is examined in publicly traded manufacturing and trade companies of Finland and three Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) during the years 2010–2018.FindingsInventory efficiency has been leveled off or falling in these countries and mostly declining development has concerned small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It is also found that inventory efficiency is in general lower in SMEs than in larger companies. Two companies sustaining in inventory efficiency are used as an example that lean has still significance, and higher inventories as well as lower inventory efficiency should not be the objective. Two companies show exemplary financial performance as well as shareholder value creation.Research limitations/implicationsWork concerns only four smaller countries, and this limits its generalization power. Research is one illustration what happens to private sector companies under low interest rate policies.Practical implicationsContinuous improvement of inventory efficiency becomes questionable in the light of current research and the low interest rate environment.Originality/valueThis is one of the seminal studies from inventory efficiency as the global financial crisis taken place in 2008–2009 and there is the implementation of low interest rates.


Author(s):  
Leonardo Gambacorta ◽  
Paul Mizen

Central bank policy operates first through financial markets and then through banks as they adjust their interest rates. This chapter discusses the transmission of policy in this first step of the monetary transmission mechanism, known as interest-rate pass-through. Historically, the focus of attention has been the interest-rate channel. We show the origins of this channel via a microfounded model of interest-rate setting by deposit-taking institutions that are Cournot oligopolists facing adjustment costs. We then examine other channels such as the bank lending channel and the bank capital channel and the role of central bank communications, signaling, and forward guidance over future interest rates. Each is shown to influence the setting of current short-term interest rates. The chapter closes with some issues for the future of pass-through in the transmission process.


2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 471-487 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gideon Fadiran

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine and compare the interest rate pass-through among the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) emerging markets. Design/methodology/approach – The paper reviews a general literature on interest rates pass-through by applying a cointegration and asymmetric mean adjustment lag (MAL) error correction methodology (ECM). Findings – A symmetric adjustment is found in Russia, China and South Africa's deposit rate, while an asymmetric adjustment is found in Brazil and India's deposit rate adjustments. The presence of a customer reaction theory is found in Brazil, India, China and South Africa's deposit rate adjustments, while a collusive pricing arrangement is found in Russia. From the lending rate adjustment, a collusive pricing arrangement was found in Brazil, China and South Africa, while a customer reaction theory was found in India and Russia. Research limitations/implications – The sample period used in the study covers a period starting from the formal recognition of BRIC (2001-2010), which limits the data length. Practical implications – The research output and implication can assist monetary policy makers, investors and consumers to monitor BRICS’ central banking, commercial banking and competition behaviour, individually and as a group. The BRICS are potentially heading towards a more financially integrated bloc as multilateral agreements among members increases. This is in the form of Letters of Credit and Memorandum of Understanding. These agreements should boost intra-BRICS financial transactions, investments and trade. Originality/value – This is, to the best of knowledge, the first analysis of BRICS interest rate pass-through using the asymmetric MAL ECM application.


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