Asset Commonality and Credit Expansion by Banks in Pakistan

Purpose: Diversification by the majority of the banks in a system contribute to the progression of systemic risk on one hand and affects the lending behaviors of the banks on the other. Since lending behaviors of the banks directly affect the availability of credit to the non-financial sector, the situation may worsen, as a consequence of systemic risk. In this study, we examine the relationship between asset commonality and credit expansion by commercial banks in Pakistan. Design/Methodology/Approach: We use post-global financial crisis data ranging from 2011-2020. A dynamic model is employed with a two-step system GMM technique to control for the problems of autocorrelation and endogeneity, as indicated by the pre-diagnostic tests. Findings: Our results show that asset commonality significantly affects credit expansion by banks in Pakistan. Moreover, the direction of the relationship is negative implying that the asset commonality of the banks in Pakistan, induces banks on the individual level to contract credit to the non-financial sector. Implications/Originality/Value: The findings are helpful for policymakers to devise and implement a prudent regulatory framework for the monetary sector, by not only targeting risk indicators of the financial sector but also keeping in view its repercussions to the real sector of the economy.