The Impact of Market Power, Credit Risk, and Economic Environment on the Stability of the Arab Banking Sector

Abstract

The paper presents an investigation of the dialectical relationship between banking concentration and the stability of the banking sector, using data from twelve Arab countries for the period 2014-2019 in the framework of a dynamic panel data model. The findings show that the banking sector in the Arab countries follows the "Concentration-Stability" hypothesis. That is, banking concentration has a significant positive impact on bank stability. The paper explains that this result is due to two main reasons. The first reason is that large banks tend to manage their assets and capital more efficiently compared to smaller banks, while the second reason is that systemically important banks (DSIBs) are subject to additional quantitative and qualitative regulatory requirements, especially after the global financial crisis in 2008. The paper also reveals that economic growth has a significant positive effect on bank stability, while credit risk has a significant negative impact on bank stability. The paper suggests encouraging the merger of small banks, as this leads to enhancing their operational efficiency, strengthening their financial positions, and supporting their ability to absorb potential shocks.