Determinants of the Cost of Financial Intermediation: Evidence from Emerging Economies

Abstract

This study examines the determinants of financial intermediation costs of banks in ten Emerging Economies (EEs) in the period 2000–2018 using panel data of 1335 banks. Empirically, this study applies the single-stage dealership model and its extensions by introducing new bank and country-level variables. We find robust evidence that investment in government securities and market openness positively affect bank intermediation costs while the trilemma index negatively affects them. During the world financial crisis, bank intermediation costs increased. Moreover, we observe that cost inefficiency, credit risk, and regulatory regime are the crucial drivers of bank intermediation costs. We draw important implications for scholars and policymakers.