{
  "title": "Banking Efficiency and Financial Development in Sub-Saharan Africa",
  "publication": "IMF Working Papers, June 1, 2010",
  "sourceUrl": "https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/banking-efficiency-and-financial-development-in-sub-saharan-africa-23929",
  "canonical": "https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/banking-efficiency-and-financial-development-in-sub-saharan-africa-23929",
  "overlayPath": "/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/banking-efficiency-and-financial-development-in-sub-saharan-africa-23929/index.md",
  "summary": "This study assesses the determinants of banking system efficiency in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and asks what, besides the degree of efficiency, explains the low level of financial development in the region.",
  "sections": [
    {
      "heading": "Summary and key findings",
      "content": "- The study assesses determinants of banking system efficiency in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and investigates what, besides the degree of efficiency, explains the low level of financial development in the region.\n- SSA banks are found to be generally cost-efficient.\n- Nonperforming loans undermine efficiency, suggesting that improvement in the regulatory and credit environments should improve efficiency.\n- The political and the economic environment have held back financial development in SSA."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Methodology",
      "content": "- Efficiency measurement: stochastic frontier analysis.\n- Financial development explanation: generalized method of moments system."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Policy implications and recommendations",
      "content": "- Improve the regulatory environment to enhance bank efficiency.\n- Strengthen the credit environment to reduce nonperforming loans and thereby improve cost-efficiency.\n- Address political and economic constraints that impede financial development in SSA."
    },
    {
      "heading": "Publication and metadata",
      "content": "- Author: Sandrine Kablan\n- Publication date: June 1, 2010\n- Series: Working Paper No. 2010/136\n- Issue: 136\n- Volume: 2010\n- Pages: 25\n- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781455201198.001\n- Stock No: WPIEA2010136\n- ISBN: 9781455201198\n- ISSN: 1018-5941\n- Accessed (citation preview): 9/17/2026\n\nBanking Efficiency and Financial Development in Sub-Saharan Africa — IMF Working Paper. Canonical URL: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/banking-efficiency-and-financial-development-in-sub-saharan-africa-23929\n\n---\n\n Content in this bundle\n\n- wp10136\n  - wp10136 (Markdown version){rel=\"alternate\" type=\"text/markdown\"}\n  - wp10136 (PDF){rel=\"external\" type=\"application/pdf\"}\n\n---\n\nSource: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/banking-efficiency-and-financial-development-in-sub-saharan-africa-23929"
    }
  ],
  "bullets": [
    "[Markdown version](/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/banking-efficiency-and-financial-development-in-sub-saharan-africa-23929/index.md)",
    "[Structured JSON version](/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/banking-efficiency-and-financial-development-in-sub-saharan-africa-23929/index.json)",
    "[Bundle manifest](/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/banking-efficiency-and-financial-development-in-sub-saharan-africa-23929/bundle-manifest.json)",
    "Authors: Sandrine Kablan",
    "Published: June 1, 2010",
    "Series: IMF Working Papers",
    "DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781455201198.001",
    "The study assesses determinants of banking system efficiency in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and investigates what, besides the degree of efficiency, explains the low level of financial development in the region.",
    "SSA banks are found to be generally cost-efficient.",
    "Nonperforming loans undermine efficiency, suggesting that improvement in the regulatory and credit environments should improve efficiency.",
    "The political and the economic environment have held back financial development in SSA.",
    "Efficiency measurement: stochastic frontier analysis.",
    "Financial development explanation: generalized method of moments system.",
    "Improve the regulatory environment to enhance bank efficiency.",
    "Strengthen the credit environment to reduce nonperforming loans and thereby improve cost-efficiency.",
    "Address political and economic constraints that impede financial development in SSA.",
    "Author: Sandrine Kablan",
    "Publication date: June 1, 2010",
    "Series: Working Paper No. 2010/136",
    "Issue: 136",
    "Volume: 2010",
    "Pages: 25",
    "DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9781455201198.001",
    "Stock No: WPIEA2010136",
    "ISBN: 9781455201198",
    "ISSN: 1018-5941",
    "Accessed (citation preview): 9/17/2026",
    "**_wp10136**"
  ],
  "related": [
    {
      "title": "_wp10136",
      "role": "document",
      "sourceUrl": "https://www.imf.org/-/media/websites/imf/imported-full-text-pdf/external/pubs/ft/wp/2010/_wp10136.pdf",
      "summary": {
        "path": "/-/media/websites/imf/imported-full-text-pdf/external/pubs/ft/wp/2010/_wp10136.pdf.md",
        "mime": "text/markdown"
      },
      "binary": {
        "path": "/-/media/websites/imf/imported-full-text-pdf/external/pubs/ft/wp/2010/_wp10136.pdf",
        "mime": "application/pdf"
      }
    }
  ],
  "alternates": {
    "markdown": "/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/banking-efficiency-and-financial-development-in-sub-saharan-africa-23929/index.md",
    "json": "/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/banking-efficiency-and-financial-development-in-sub-saharan-africa-23929/index.json",
    "bundleManifest": "/en/publications/wp/issues/2016/12/31/banking-efficiency-and-financial-development-in-sub-saharan-africa-23929/bundle-manifest.json"
  },
  "generatedAtUtc": "2026-09-17T09:50:48.384Z"
}