Search Costs, Market Structure and Interest Rate Dispersion

Author(s):  
Alfredo Martin Oliver ◽  
Jesus Saurina Salas ◽  
Vicente Salas-Fumás
2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 81-113
Author(s):  
Nderitu Kingori

This paper investigates the effect of changing market structure and macroeconomic shocks on the borrowing and lending risk exposure of Kenyan commercial banks using a GMM estimation approach. Borrowing risk exposure was found not to be persistent, being mainly affected by the degree of concentration and external economic shocks. Interestingly, the results also suggest that changes in the short-term interest rate do not affect the net interest margin, which may imply that bank deposit and lending rates are rigid and that the interest rate channel may be ineffective. The lending risk exposure was found to be persistent, and it was affected by the degree of concentration, internal economic shocks, and external economic shocks. The positive relationship between degree of concentration as well as borrowing and lending risk exposure supports the concentration-fragility view, as the declining franchise value did not lower incentives for making good loans during the study period where the degree of concentration was on a downward trend. Further analysis of the factors contributing to the persistence of lending risk exposure using a PVAR model found that the banks' loan growth rate and the market interest rate were key determinants. The effect of the loan growth rate was about double the effect of interest rate risk, implying that risk taking by some of the medium-sized and small banks is the key determinant of the persistence of lending risk exposure.


2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 1127-1145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angus C. Chu ◽  
Lei Ji

This study develops a monetary Schumpeterian model with endogenous market structure (EMS) to explore the effects of monetary policy on the number of firms, firm size, economic growth, and social welfare. EMS leads to different results from previous studies in which market structure is exogenous. In the short run, a higher nominal interest rate reduces the growth rates of innovation, output, and consumption and decreases firm size through reduction in labor supply. In the long run, a higher nominal interest rate reduces the equilibrium number of firms but has no steady-state effect on economic growth and firm size because of EMS. Although monetary policy has no long-run growth effect, increasing the nominal interest rate permanently reduces the levels of output, consumption, and employment. Taking transition dynamics into account, we find that welfare is decreasing in the nominal interest rate and the Friedman rule is optimal in this economy.


2012 ◽  
Vol 102 (2) ◽  
pp. 1140-1160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heski Bar-Isaac ◽  
Guillermo Caruana ◽  
Vicente Cuñat

The Internet has made consumer search easier, with consequences for prices, industry structure, and the kinds of products offered. We provide an industry model with strategic design choices that explores these issues. A polarized market structure results: some firms choose designs aimed at broad-based audiences, while others target narrow niches. We analyze the effect of reduced search costs, finding results consistent with the reported prevalence of niche goods and long-tail and superstar phenomena. In particular, the model suggests that long-tail effects arise when there is a wide range of potential designs, relative to vertical heterogeneity among firms. JEL: D11, D21, D83, L11, L86, M31


2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
pp. 29
Author(s):  
Leah Njoroge ◽  
Mercy Warui ◽  
Catherine Mbogo ◽  
Margaret Chiera ◽  
Dr. Chogii

Purpose: To establish the determinants of interest rate spread among commercial banks in Kenya. Methodology: The study utilized a descriptive survey research design. Findings: The results indicated that the commercial banking sector has witnessed a gradual rise in the Interest rate spread. Results also showed that the mean of market structure has been fluctuating with year (2010) being the lowest with mean of 4 and year (2012) being the highest with mean 12. Results also showed that there was no regulation from the year (2005) to the year (2009) but it was later adopted whereas regulations shoot steadily to mean of 1.0 in the year (2009) and remained in the same level the rest of the years. The regression results indicate that there is a positive and significant relationship between market structure, credit risk and interest spread. The regression results also indicated that there is a positive but insignificant relationship between access to information and interest spread. Further, the results indicated that there is a negative and significant relationship between regulation and interest spread. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study is important to the management of Commercial banks as it will provide an insight on the factors influencing interest rate spread among commercial banks in Kenya. The results of this study will provide information to policy makers and other stakeholders in the financial sector (especially the banks) to come up with strategies that help in dealing with the high interest rate spread experience in the banking sector and thus improve on the financial performance of the organisations. It may be used as a tool for persuading commercial banks to reduce their interest rates spread and hence increase their volume of business, which of course would compensate the loss in the interest rate spread. The study will also be invaluable to the government and CBK. This is because the monetary policy framework of Central Bank of Kenya and its implementation will be guided by a need to ensure, among others: realistic interest rate spreads that encourage financial deepening and a safe, sound, efficient and competitive banking system through discreet risk management. These findings therefore might influence the effectiveness of economic policies. The research results will also be important to scholars and researchers as it will add to the existing pool of knowledge.


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 69-79
Author(s):  
Chandra Wijaya ◽  
Yunika Lucianna ◽  
Fibria Indriati

The purpose of this study is to examine the variables that determine the interest rate spreads (IRS) of conventional banks listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX). There are four major variables that affect a bank’s interest rate spreads, namely financial bank, macroeconomics, economic freedom and market structure variables. The study participants are conventional banks listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange from 2013 to 2017. Data was tested by using the OLS regression model. The results of this study show that all of the financial bank variables (Liquidity Risk (LR), Return to Asset Ratio (RTAR), Capital Adequacy (CA), Cost Efficiency Ratio (CER), and Risk Aversion (RA)) can significantly affect interest rate spreads. While of the macroeconomic variables, only two can significantly affect interest rate spreads, namely Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Inflation Rate (IR). Furthermore, all of the variables of economic freedom and market structure can significantly determine interest rate spreads. AcknowledgmentThe authors thank the Research Cluster of Governance and Competitiveness, Faculty of Administrative Sciences, Universitas Indonesia, for providing financial assistance and supporting materials related to discussion, and assistance in writing this paper.


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