Comparative Cost Study of Foreign and Thai Domestic Banks 1990-2002: Estimating Cost Functions of the Thai Banking Industry

This paper investigates the changing cost performances of foreign and domestic banks in Thailand in relation to increased foreign bank penetration by estimating their cost functions using panel data from 27 banks during 1990-2002. Our empirical analysis suggests that production technologies of foreign bank branches are distinct from those of Thai domestic banks. After the Asian crisis, financial reforms increased operating costs of domestic banks and reduced costs of foreign bank branches. Foreign acquisition of domestic banks after the crisis modernized their business activities, reduced costs associated with fee-based businesses and improved their operational efficiency.Cost function, Foreign Entry, Crisis, Thailand

The Effects of Foreign Bank Entry on the Thai Banking Market: Empirical Analysis from 1990 to 2002

This paper investigates the impact of foreign bank entry on Thai domestic banks by using panel data on 17 domestic commercial banks from 1990 to 2002. The paper examines different factors affecting bank performance, including changes in the foreign ownership of banks, financial regulations, and market structure. We find that an increase in foreign bank presence leads to a rise in overhead expenses, a decline in profits, and an increase in the interest spreads of domestic banks. In the short run, increased competition from foreign banks negatively affects domestic banks. However, in the long run, domestic banks' performance should improve.Bank Performance, Foreign Entry, Crisis, Thailand

The Determinants of the Fundraising Structure of Listed Companies in Vietnam: Estimation of the Effects of Government Ownership

This study investigates the factors determining the debt-ratios of listed companies on the Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh stock exchange markets. Estimation analysis using panel data covering the three-year period from 2006 to 2008 reveals the following results. (1) The debt-ratios of listed companies may be well explained by adjusted Modigliani and Miller theory combined with agency cost theory. (2) In order to borrow long-term outside funds, the ability to provide collateral is very important, even for qualified and listed companies. (3) Government controlled companies have weak incentives to save corporate tax payments by using debt financing. (4) In term of long-term fundraising, government controlled companies are perceived to present less risk than other companies. (5) In the determinants of fundraising, there is almost no difference in the determinants of fundraising between companies listed on the Ho Chi Minh stock exchange and those on the Hanoi stock exchange. (6) Compared to the fundraising activities of small- and medium-sized companies analyzed by Nguyen (2006) and Biger et al. (2008), those of listed companies could be better explained by using standard corporate financing theory. These observations suggest several policy implications. (1) Economic reform (Doi Moi) policies have successfully built up market based corporate financing systems for listed companies in Vietnam; however, (2) the protection of outside creditors should be further enhanced, as should be the disclosure of corporate information. (3) Further liberalization and privatization of the banking sector is urgently needed.Corporate Finance, Capital Structure, Transition Economy, Vietnam

The Determinants of the Fundraising Structure of Listed Companies in Vietnam : Estimation of the Effects of Government Ownership

This study investigates the factors determining the debt-ratios of listed companies on the Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh stock exchange markets. Estimation analysis using panel data covering the three-year period from 2006 to 2008 reveals the following results. (1) The debt-ratios of listed companies may be well explained by adjusted Modigliani and Miller theory combined with agency cost theory. (2) In order to borrow long-term outside funds, the ability to provide collateral is very important, even for qualified and listed companies. (3) Government controlled companies have weak incentives to save corporate tax payments by using debt financing. (4) In term of long-term fundraising, government controlled companies are perceived to present less risk than other companies. (5) In the determinants of fundraising, there is almost no difference in the determinants of fundraising between companies listed on the Ho Chi Minh stock exchange and those on the Hanoi stock exchange. (6) Compared to the fundraising activities of small- and medium-sized companies analyzed by Nguyen (2006) and Biger et al. (2008), those of listed companies could be better explained by using standard corporate financing theory. These observations suggest several policy implications. (1) Economic reform (Doi Moi) policies have successfully built up market based corporate financing systems for listed companies in Vietnam; however, (2) the protection of outside creditors should be further enhanced, as should be the disclosure of corporate information. (3) Further liberalization and privatization of the banking sector is urgently needed.Corporate Finance, Capital Structure, Transition Economy, Vietnam

Fundraising Behaviors of Listed Companies in Vietnam: An Estimation of the Influence of Government Ownership

This study investigates the capital structure and investment activities of listed companies on the Hanoi Securities Exchange and the Ho Chi Minh Securities Exchange in Vietnam. Estimation analysis using panel data covering the four-year period 2006-2009 revealed the following results. (1) Standard corporate financing theories such as trade-off theory and agency cost theory could be appropriate for explaining the capital structure of listed companies in Vietnam. (2) Compared to the fundraising activities of the companies analyzed by Nguyen (2006) and Biger et al. (2008), the fundraising activities of the listed companies were better explained by standard agency cost theory. (3) There are differences between the determinants of long-term fundraising and short-term fundraising of listed companies in Vietnam. (4) The fundraising determinants of state-controlled companies are different from those of other companies; state-controlled companies have an advantage in tapping external debt funds, and their incentive to reduce their tax payments by debt financing is weaker. (5) The companies listed on the Ho Chi Minh Securities Exchange depended less on debt financing than those listed on the Hanoi Securities Exchange. (6) Listed companies in Vietnam face weak incentives to reduce their tax payments by debt financing because the effective corporate tax rate is low. These results imply that the economic reforms (“Doi Moi”) implemented by the Vietnamese government, which aims to create an economic system based on market mechanisms, have achieved some of their goals in terms of fund mobilization and corporate financing. However, our estimation study illustrates several limitations of economic reforms, such as the opaque relationship between state-controlled companies and government banks, financial restrictions on investment activities, and inactive investment of companies that are state-controlled or listed on the Ho Chi Minh Securities Exchange.Corporate Finance, Capital Structure, Transition Economy, Vietnam

The Estimation of Stochastic Cost Functions of Malaysian Commercial Banks and Its Policy Implications to Bank Restructuring

The present paper examines stochastic cost functions of Malaysian commercial banks from 1991 to 1997 periods and catches the changes in their management structure and technical efficiency. Then, we also discuss policy implications for bank integration and competition policy which is the part of current financial reform that reinforces the banking sector. However, little microeconomic analysis of the Malaysian banking business has been conducted. The only known serious academic research in this area is by (Katib and Mathews, 2000). The present paper contributes to the expansion of their study in two respects. Firstly, we have estimated the cost function, availing ourselves of SEA based on a parametric approach. Secondly, our model also includes as a factor the existence of bad debts. According to our results, we observed economies of scale clearly, but economies of scope and technological progress were not observed. Regarding the policy implication, the result of our analysis suggests strongly that the current policy is appropriate.Economies of scale, Economies of scope, Technical efficiency, Cost function, Banking, Malaysia, Financial liberalization

The Production Technology of Philippine Domestic Banks in the Pre-Asian Crisis Periods: Estimation of Cost Function in the 1990-96 Period

This is to analyzes the operational behavior and technical progress among Philippine domestic banks, using micro-level data on individual banks. First, we summarize their major business activities and gain insight on how the structure is changing. Then, we formally estimate the cost function of Philippine domestic banks using panel data covering a seven-year period (1990-96). The presence of economies of scale and economies of scope is investigated and technical progress in the banking industry is measured. In addition, the results of analysis for the Philippines are compared with those of similar studies on Thailand conducted by the author previously

The Production Technology of Philippine Domestic Banks in the Pre-Asian Crisis Periods: Estimation of Cost Function in the 1990-96 Period

This is to analyzes the operational behavior and technical progress among Philippine domestic banks, using micro-level data on individual banks. First, we summarize their major business activities and gain insight on how the structure is changing. Then, we formally estimate the cost function of Philippine domestic banks using panel data covering a seven-year period (1990-96). The presence of economies of scale and economies of scope is investigated and technical progress in the banking industry is measured. In addition, the results of analysis for the Philippines are compared with those of similar studies on Thailand conducted by the author previously