Drivers of Cross-Border Banking in Sub-Saharan Africa

Author/Editor:

Paul Henri Mathieu ; Marco Pani ; Shiyuan Chen ; Rodolfo Maino

Publication Date:

July 11, 2019

Electronic Access:

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Disclaimer: IMF Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to encourage debate. The views expressed in IMF Working Papers are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF, its Executive Board, or IMF management.

Summary:

Using data collected from pan-African banks’ (PABs), balance sheets and other sources (Orbis, Fitch), this study identifies some key patterns of cross-border investment in bank subsidiaries by key banking groups in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and discusses some of the determinants of this investment. Using a gravity model relating the annual value of a banking group’s investment in the net equity of its subsidiaries to a set of explanatory variables, the analysis finds that cross-border banking is in part driven by a search for yield, diversification, and expansion for strategic reasons.

Series:

Working Paper No. 2019/146

Subject:

English

Publication Date:

July 11, 2019

ISBN/ISSN:

9781498321549/1018-5941

Stock No:

WPIEA2019146

Pages:

45

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