After the financial crisis: a cost efficiency analysis of banks from Saudi Arabia
International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance and Management
ISSN: 1753-8394
Article publication date: 25 November 2013
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to estimate the cost efficiency scores of banks in KSA before and during financial crisis by using a data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach.
Design/methodology/approach
The study uses the intermediation approach of banking services where banks are considered as manufacturing units. The research methodology consists of cost efficiency DEA and a second stage Tobit regression model.
Findings
The results reveal that banks in KSA are least affected by the crisis as the efficiency scores remain the same during all the periods. However, the average levels of inefficiency remain higher suggesting that KSA banks are lagging behind in exploiting the resources fully. The major source of cost inefficiency stems from allocative inefficiency rather than the technical one. Results of the Tobit regression also disclose that the impact of financial crisis across bank efficiency remains weak and inconclusive.
Research limitations/implications
The study bears some useful managerial implications for various stakeholders. Although banks do not seem to be affected by the crisis, yet they need to improve their efficiency since the levels are far below the frontier. For successful existence and growth of banking, it remains vital that these banks control their costs regardless of the fact are operating in a concentrated market.
Practical implications
The paper suggests that the banks in KSA need to bring down their operating expenses to reach the efficiency frontier. The average level of inefficiency (82 per cent) reflects a greater amount of input waste which needs to be controlled by these banks.
Originality/value
The study is novel in a way that it evaluates the cost efficiency performance of KSA banks before and during the financial crisis, followed by a second stage regression on the determinants of cost efficiency. It provides valuable insights to both the bank managers and public policy makers who can look for the optimal levels of efficiency and competitiveness of Saudi banking sector.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The author would like to thank the anonymous referees for their useful comments and suggestions on an earlier version of this article. However, any errors are solely the responsibility of the author.
Citation
Hanif Akhtar, M. (2013), "After the financial crisis: a cost efficiency analysis of banks from Saudi Arabia", International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance and Management, Vol. 6 No. 4, pp. 322-332. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMEFM-05-2013-0059
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2013, Emerald Group Publishing Limited