Institutional Determinants of Financial Development in MENA Countries

19 Pages Posted: 5 Nov 2014

See all articles by Mondher Cherif

Mondher Cherif

University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne

Christian Dreger

European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder); IZA Institute of Labor Economics; Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS)

Date Written: November 2014

Abstract

Developed and well regulated financial markets are usually seen as a precondition for an efficient allocation of resources and can foster long term economic growth. This paper explores the institutional determinants for financial development in the countries of the Middle East and North African (MENA) region. Institutional conditions are from the International Country Risk Guide. Paneleconometric techniques are applied to assess the development in the banking sector and the stock market. As a main finding, institutional conditions are important in both financial segments, even after controlling for standard macroeconomic determinants and fixed effects. For the banking sector, corruption seems to be most decisive. For the stock market, the impact of corruption and law and order appear to be relevant. While per capita income and inflation do not seem to play a vital role, openess to foreign trade is quite important for all areas of financial development. Hence, Overall, faster real economic integration is of key policy priority to improve financial development as a condition for higher GDP growth. Better law and enforcement practices and anti corruption policies are strategies to accompany this process.

Keywords: Financial development, banking and stock market, institutional quality

JEL Classification: F15, G15, G28

Suggested Citation

Cherif, Mondher and Dreger, Christian, Institutional Determinants of Financial Development in MENA Countries (November 2014). DIW Berlin Discussion Paper No. 1422, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2519081 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2519081

Mondher Cherif

University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne ( email )

51096 Reims Cedex
France

Christian Dreger (Contact Author)

European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder) ( email )

Frankfurt (Oder)
Germany

IZA Institute of Labor Economics

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) ( email )

Beijing, 100732
China

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