Bank-Firm Relationships and International Banking Markets
Hans Degryse, Steven Ongena
International Journal of the Economics of Business,
No. 3,
2002
Abstract
This paper reviews how long-term relationships between firms and banks shape the structure and integration of banking markets worldwide. Bank relationships arise to span informational asymmetries that are endemic in financial markets. Firm-bank relationships not only entail specific benefits and costs for both the engaged firms and banks, but also directly affect the structure of banking markets. In particular, the sunk cost of screening and monitoring activities and the 'informational capital' collected by the incumbent banks may act as a barrier to entry. The intensity of the existing firm-bank relationships will determine the height of this barrier and shape the structure of international banking markets. For example, in Scandinavia where firms maintain few and strong relationships, foreign banks may only be able to enter successfully through mergers and acquisitions. On the other hand, Southern European firms maintain many bank relationships. Therefore, banks may consider entering Southern European banking markets through direct investment.
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Korean unification and banking system - An analysis in view of German experiences and Korean differences
Ralf Müller
IWH Discussion Papers,
No. 139,
2001
Abstract
One of the reforms that have to be launched in a future unification process in Korea, which seems possible after the political negotiations last year, is the transformation of the North Korean banking system. The question arises whether Korea could profit from the German experience where banking transformation was one of the rather few success stories in unification. In 1990 the East German banking transformation was achieved relatively fast and uncomplicated due to considerable direct investments of the West German banks compounded with state guarantees for bad loans resulting from the credit business with existing GDR-corporations. Unfortunately, South Korea currently lacks some major prerequesites that contributed to the German banking unification, among them – and probably the most important one – is the lack of a sound and efficient banking
system that could become active in the North. Consequently, depending on the circumstances of a future Korean unification either a more gradual process is recommended or, if inner-Korean migration requires a more dynamic transition, considerable investment by foreign banks and assistance from international organisations is recommended.
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East German industry 1998: Increase of operating turnover through development of internal potentials – An empirical IAB Company Panel analysis –
Brigitte Loose
Wirtschaft im Wandel,
No. 3,
2000
Abstract
In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird der Differenziertheit der Entwicklung der ostdeutschen Industriebetriebe in der Aufschwungphase 1997/1998 nachgegangen und zugleich Faktoren herauskristallisiert, die Ansatzpunkte zur Erklärung der Unterschiede zwischen den Betrieben liefern können. Als Indikator für die betriebliche Entwicklung wird die Umsatzveränderung 1998 gegenüber 1997 gewählt, die zum Ausdruck bringt, ob die Produkte vom Markt stärker oder weniger stark als im Vorjahr absorbiert wurden. Bi- und multivariate Analysen anhand des IAB-Betriebspanels von 1998 zeigen dann, welche Zusammenhänge zwischen Umsatzentwicklung und verschiedenen Betriebsmerk-malen für das Jahr 1998 bestehen, wobei neben allgemeinen Betriebscharakteristika, wie Größe, Alter, Entstehungsform und Branchenzugehörigkeit, auch solche wichtigen Größen mit einbezogen werden, wie technischer Stand der Anlagen, Innovationen, Managementkompetenz, Lohnbelastung, Marktposition, Inanspruchnahme von Fördermaßnahmen und Wettbewerbsintensität.
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