Bank profitability in Sub-Saharan Africa: does economic globalization matter?

Purpose This study aims to examine the impact of economic globalization on bank profitability in Sub-Saharan Africa. Design/methodology/approach The empirical analysis is based on panel data of banks spanning 2008-2016. Relying on the KOF Globalization Index, the study uses financial globalization and trade globalization as measures of economic globalization. The authors employ the system generalized method of moments technique to establish the relationship between economic globalization and bank profitability while controlling for the effect of bank-specific and macroeconomic factors. Findings The results show a negative significant effect of financial and trade globalization on bank profitability, signifying the intense competition of banks in Sub-Saharan Africa accelerated by globalization. The negative effect of economic globalization holds irrespective of the indicator of bank profitability. Bank size exerts a significant effect on profitability though the impact is negative for return on equity measure. The findings further reveal a positive significant impact of GDP growth and inflation on profitability. Originality/value This paper presents a pioneering work on the impact of economic globalization on bank profitability in the Sub-Saharan African context per the researchers' knowledge.