This paper has analyzed cost efficiency and its determinants in Middle Eastern and Northern African (MENA) countries during the 2005–2012 period. Our results have shown that cost efficiency is positively related with economic performance, but the level of concentration and market share has a negative influence on the former, thus supporting the Quiet Life Hypothesis. We have also found support for the competition-inefficiency hypothesis, which may be explained by lower loyalty between customers and banks. At the individual level, size shows the importance of economies of scale and the level of capital also produces a positive effect. The effects on market structure are more important in the crisis period than before it. Turning to country-level variables, inflation and GDP are positively related to total cost function. Therefore, banking policies should promote profitability, capitalization and growth while at the same time controlling excessive concentration and competition.

العنوان

Journal of Business Research

الناشر

Elsevier

بلد الناشر

هولندا

Indexing

Scopus

معامل التأثير

4,87

نوع المنشور

Both (Printed and Online)

المجلد

112

السنة

2020

الصفحات

331-341