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.

Title

Journal of Business Research

Publisher

Elsevier

Publisher Country

Netherlands

Indexing

Scopus

Impact Factor

4.87

Publication Type

Both (Printed and Online)

Volume

112

Year

2020

Pages

331-341