Concentration and performance in vietnamese commercial banks

Abstract

The paper examines the effect of concentration on performance in the Vietnamese commercial banks during the period 2005-2012, using the concentration ratio and the Herfindahl-Hirschman index to measure the level of concentration in the banking sector. We find a clear trend of decreasing concentration of the Vietnamese banking sector over the analyzed period, along with an increase in competition. The results of the competitive analysis based on The Panzar-Rosse model show a status of monopoly competition market has formed in the banking sector. With respect to the effects of concentration on banks’ performance, the study finds a negative relationship between the concentration of the market and operational performance of the commercial banks in the context of monopoly competition. We conclude that high competition and less concentration stimulate the banking sector to achieve a more balanced allocation of credits and promoting sustainable economic growth.