Title: Bank efficiency, profitability and equity capital: evidence from developing countries

Authors: Sok-Gee Chan, Mohd Zaini Abd Karim

Addresses: Institute of China Studies, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia. ' Institute for Economic Analysis and Forecasting, College of Arts and Sciences, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Sintok 06010, Kedah, Malaysia

Abstract: This paper analysed the effects of profitability and equity capital on bank efficiency of commercial banks in the developing countries. To achieve the objectives, the stochastic frontier approach is used in the first stage of the analysis to obtain cost and profit efficiency scores. In the second stage, the efficiency scores obtained are regressed with a measure of bank|s equity capital and profitability by using the Tobit regression model. The results show that equity to total assets ratio has a negative effect on efficiency indicating that either the use of debts in financing bank operations or less regulatory condition contribute to higher efficiency. The results also found that return on assets have a positive effect on profit efficiency suggesting the needs for efficient utilisation of banks assets.

Keywords: bank efficiency; profitability; equity capital; stochastic frontier; tobit regression; developing countries; profit efficiency; cost efficiency; total assets; return on assets; banking industry.

DOI: 10.1504/AJFA.2010.037062

American Journal of Finance and Accounting, 2010 Vol.2 No.2, pp.181 - 195

Published online: 22 Nov 2010 *

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