Persistent and Transient Inefficiency: Explaining the Low Efficiency of Chinese Big Banks
30 Pages Posted: 27 Jul 2018 Last revised: 15 Oct 2021
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Persistent and Transient Inefficiency: Explaining the Low Efficiency of Chinese Big Banks
Persistent and Transient Inefficiency: Explaining the Low Efficiency of Chinese Big Banks
Date Written: July 20, 2018
Abstract
Considering the evidence that China’s five largest state-owned banks (the Big Five) suffer from low cost efficiency, this paper decomposes overall efficiency of Chinese banks into: persistent efficiency and transient efficiency components. Low persistent efficiency reflects structural problems, while low transient efficiency is associated with short-term problems. Using the model of Kumbhakar, Lien and Hardaker (2014) based on the stochastic frontier approach, we measure persistent efficiency and transient efficiency for a large sample of 166 Chinese banks over the period 2008–2015. In line with existing evidence, we find a lower average cost efficiency of Big Five banks compared to other Chinese banks. It is almost entirely due to low persistent cost efficiency. Big Five transient efficiency is similar to other Chinese banks. Our findings support the view that major structural reforms are needed to enhance the efficiency of China’s Big Five banks.
Keywords: bank, efficiency, China, transient and persistent efficiency
JEL Classification: C23, D24, G21
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation