Early Birds, Late Risers, and Sleeping Beauties: Bank Credit Growth to the Private Sector in Central and Eastern Europe and in the Balkans

 
Author/Editor: Cottarelli, Carlo ; Dell'Ariccia, Giovanni ; Hollar, Ivanna Vladkova
 
Publication Date: November 01, 2003
 
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Summary: Following a period of privatization and restructuring, commercial banks in Central and Eastern Europe and, more recently, in the Balkans have rapidly expanded their lending to the private sector. This paper describes the causes of this expansion, assesses future trends, and evaluates its policy implications. It concludes that bank credit to the private sector is likely to continue rising faster than GDP in the next few years throughout the region, picking up also in countries where so far it has been stalled. Although this growth should be regarded as a structural and positive development, policymakers will have to evaluate carefully its implications for macroeconomic developments and financial stability.
 
Series: Working Paper No. 03/213
Subject(s): Credit expansion | Central and Eastern Europe | Albania | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Bulgaria | Croatia | Czech Republic | Estonia | Hungary | Latvia | Lithuania | Macedonia, FYR | Poland | Romania | Serbia and Montenegro | Private sector | Transition economies | Privatization | Liquidity | Capital controls | Credit ceilings | Macedonia, former Yugoslav Republic of

Author's Keyword(s): Credit booms | financial developments | transition economies
 
English
Publication Date: November 01, 2003
ISBN/ISSN: 1934-7073 Format: Paper
Stock No: WPIEA2132003 Pages: 64
Price:
US$15.00 (Academic Rate:
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