Using a signal extraction framework and looking at OECD countries over a 30 year period this paper attempts to identify a number of variables significant in predicting near-crises as a pre-cursor to full-fledged crises. These include growth in pension assets as an indicator for the development...

This study investigates the impact of securitization on the credit risk-taking behavior of banks. Using US Bank Holding Company data from 2001 to 2007, we find that banks with a greater balance of outstanding securitized assets choose asset portfolios of lower credit risks. Examining...

The deregulation of financial services in the European Union, together with the establishment of the Economic and Monetary Union, aimed at the creation of a level-playing-field in the provision of banking services across the EU. The plan was to remove entry barriers and to foster competition and...

The 1990s have witnessed a significant growth in bank income generated through non-traditional activities especially for large EU universal institutions. Using the non-parametric Malmquist methodology this paper analyses the importance of the inclusion of off-balance sheet (OBS) business in the...

During the past decades, competitive pressures have increasingly driven banks to change the strategic focus on generating returns to shareholders. All things being equal, cost efficient banks should be more profitable and therefore generate greater shareholder returns. The purpose of this paper...

Consolidation in the global banking industry has resulted in the emergence of financial conglomerates that conduct an extensive range of businesses with a group structure. To date, few studies have investigated the performance features of such groups. This study aims to extend the literature by...

This paper investigates whether there has been an improvement and convergence of productive efficiency across European banking markets since the creation of the Single Internal Market. Using efficiency measures derived from DEA estimation we also evaluate the determinants of European bank...

Evidence of financial integration and convergence are considered of importance in assessing the outcome of EU deregulation policies aimed at improving the efficiency and performance of banking sectors. This paper evaluates the recent dynamics of bank cost efficiency by means of Data Envelopment...