Geographic Deregulation and Banks’ Cost of Equity Capital

60 Pages Posted: 3 Dec 2018 Last revised: 7 Mar 2023

See all articles by Allen N. Berger

Allen N. Berger

University of South Carolina - Darla Moore School of Business

Sadok El Ghoul

University of Alberta - Campus Saint-Jean

Omrane Guedhami

University of South Carolina - Moore School of Business

Raluca A. Roman

Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia

Date Written: September 10, 2020

Abstract

We examine the effects of geographic deregulation on banks’ cost of equity (COE) using changes in interstate bank branching laws over the post–Riegle-Neal period (1994:Q4–2016:Q4). We find strong evidence that deregulation increases banks’ COE. This is driven primarily by active acquirers, rather than those subject to increased competition from these acquirers. We identify higher risk-taking as an important channel for these findings. The results support our new acquisitions–fragility view, rather than the traditional competition–fragility view. Results are robust to instrumental variables, accounting for secular trends, and alternative explanations.

Keywords: Bank Deregulation, Cost of Equity Capital, Risk, Acquisitions, M&As, Market Discipline.

JEL Classification: G21, G28, G34

Suggested Citation

Berger, Allen N. and El Ghoul, Sadok and Guedhami, Omrane and Roman, Raluca A., Geographic Deregulation and Banks’ Cost of Equity Capital (September 10, 2020). Journal of International Money and Finance, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3290940 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3290940

Allen N. Berger

University of South Carolina - Darla Moore School of Business ( email )

1014 Greene St.
Columbia, SC 29208
United States
803-576-8440 (Phone)
803-777-6876 (Fax)

Sadok El Ghoul

University of Alberta - Campus Saint-Jean ( email )

Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2R3
Canada
780-465-8725 (Phone)
780-465-8760 (Fax)

Omrane Guedhami

University of South Carolina - Moore School of Business ( email )

Columbia, SC
United States

Raluca A. Roman (Contact Author)

Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia ( email )

Ten Independence Mall
Philadelphia, PA 19106-1574
United States

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