Abstract:The aim of this paper is to investigate how efficient the performance of the Malaysian banking market is, using a data envelopment analysis approach, in the context of the increasing presence of foreign banks. Specifically, two measures of efficiency are constructed, cost and profit efficiency, by utilizing bank-level data from Malaysian commercial banks, over the period from 2003 to 2014. The results obtained show the domestic banks are more efficient than their foreign banking counterparts for both measures of efficiency. Next, the Lerner index approach was employed to measure competition and finally, Granger causality tests were undertaken to answer the question, does competition foster efficiency? The results of the causality tests support a positive effect of competition on the cost and profit efficiency of Malaysian banks. With regard to the financial liberalization, the findings imply that higher competitive pressure may offset the market power of individual banks; however, eventually it will result in efficiency gains for the Malaysian banks.

The Asian financial crisis of 1997~1998 was the catalyst for the movement toward regional cooperation between Asian countries, having triggered the common interests and vulnerabilities among the affected nations. As a result, policymakers have resorted to financial integration to unleash their potentials. Nevertheless, this approach is still in its infancy, largely underpinned by the heterogeneity in institutional and structural characteristics of the financial systems between countries. The authorities are cautious, as there is a trade-off between liquidity of capital markets and financial/economic stability. Considering these scenarios, the present study attempts to examine the dynamic relationship between financial integration and growth in Asian regions. Specifically, this study aims to investigate the financial-growth nexus pre-crisis (1980~1995) and post-crisis (1998~2015) as well as throughout the study period (1980~2015). The results of this study show a significant financial-growth relationship pre-crisis, but the impact wanes in the post-crisis and overall time periods. The results indicate to policymakers the heterogeneous characteristics of each country and to what extent financial integration should be emulated from their European counterparts.

-This study investigates the determinants of carbon dioxide emissions in ASEAN+3 countries (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Japan and South Korea) during the period of 1991 to 2010. The methodologies employed in this study include the Im, Pesaran, and Shin Panel Unit Root test, the Pedroni (Engle-Granger based) Cointegration Test, and the Granger-Causality based on the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM). Results from the panel unit root test show that all the variables are integrated of order one, I (1). For the cointegration test, the results indicate that there is a long relationship between carbon dioxide emissions, energy consumption, economic growth, urbanisation, trade openness, and transportation. The empirical results show that economic growth, energy consumption, and trade openness are the determinants of CO 2 emissions in ASEAN+3.

Purpose -The main purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between the market structure and financial performance of Malaysian commercial banks over the period of 2000 to 2011 by testing the structure-conduct-performance (SCP) and efficient-structure (ESH) hypotheses. Design/methodology/approach -Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is employed to measure the efficiency of banks, while concentration ratio is used to assess the market structure of Malaysian banks. Next, utilizing the least squares method, both variables -market structure and efficiency of banksamong other explanatory variables (market share, operating expenses, loans ratio and size of banks) are regressed upon the dependent variable, namely financial performance of banks represented by return on asset (ROA), return on equity (ROE) and net interest margin (NIMTA). Findings -The concentration of Malaysian banking industry is at a declining trend; structurally speaking, Malaysian banks are more competitive due to less market concentration. In terms of efficiency, the DEA results reveal that Malaysian banks are operating below their capacity at 40 per cent of efficiency. Thus, Malaysian banks could reduce their utilization of inputs by 60 per cent to operate on the efficient frontier. Next, the results offer support to ESH, which implies that market concentration and banking efficiency determines the profitability performance of Malaysian commercial banks. Originality/value -Past studies on Malaysian banking sector had tended to focus either on measuring the performance or assessing the market structure of banks. Thus, this study attempts to fill the gap in the literature by testing the nexus between the market structure and the performance of banks.

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