Determinants of bank profitability: a comparative study of East Asia and Latin America
by Rubi Ahmad; Eric H.Y. Koh; Shahrin Saaid Shaharuddin
International Journal of Banking, Accounting and Finance (IJBAAF), Vol. 7, No. 1, 2016

Abstract: This paper identifies the determinants of profitability using an unbalanced panel of 78 East Asian and 89 Latin American banks for the period 2003-2014. We regress profitability against bank-specific variables (capital adequacy, cost-income ratio, liquidity ratio, loan loss reserve ratio, and bank size) and macroeconomic variables (gross domestic product, inflation and bank concentration). Our dynamic panel regression model suggests that bank profitability in East Asia is determined by more bank-specific variables than macroeconomic variables; the reverse, however, applies to Latin America. We contribute to current literature by: 1) using a more robust profitability measure (risk-adjusted returns); 2) employing both bank-specific and macroeconomic variables; 3) studying two large and fast-developing regions of East Asia and Latin America. Our findings enhance our theoretical and practical knowledge of bank-specific profitability determinants. It also enables policy makers to deliberate on the pertinent macroeconomic determinants such as inflation and concentration ratio.

Online publication date: Thu, 15-Sep-2016

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Banking, Accounting and Finance (IJBAAF):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

Username:        Password:          Forgotten your password?

Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com