Banking deregulations and unemployment in South Asia

Abstract

The paper empirically examines the effects of banking deregulations on overall and youth unemployment rates in South Asian countries using panel data for the period 1991 to 2005. The results show that banking deregulations have decreased the youth unemployment rate in the region. The results also reveal that high consumption level, per capita income and bank credit have reduced the unemployment rate, while bank crisis and high wage rate have increased the unemployment rate in the region. The results suggest that banking liberalization may help to reduce unemployment particularly youth unemployment in South Asian countries.