Purpose The purpose of this paper is to determine the simultaneous effect of corporate governance (CG) of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Islamic banks (IBs) on efficiency and risk. Design/methodology/approach The authors include Shariah supervisory board (SSB) size, Chief Executive Officer (CEO)-duality and ownership structure as CG variables. Efficiency and risk are measured using the data envelopment analysis (DEA)/stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) and Z-score, respectively. This paper also examines the risk-efficiency relationship. To test the hypotheses, the authors used seemingly unrelated regressions on a sample of 56 GCC IBs during the period 2004-2013. Findings The results indicate that implementing rigorous CG structures correlate with higher efficiency levels. Particularly, the authors show that the governance structure of IBs allows them to take higher risks to achieve a high efficiency level. In addition, results show that bank efficiency and risk are positively related. Practical implications This paper gives some insights to policy makers. It points out detail attention toward the importance of CG in IB that influences the efficiency level and risk-taking behavior. Thus, IB should improve governance procedures that can lead to higher efficiency and survival in a competitive environment and sustain financial crisis. Moreover, the economic conditions of a country are the main determinant of an IB’s efficiency and risk relationships. Originality/value The simultaneous effect of the CG of the GCC IBs on efficiency and risk is examined, taking into consideration different CG proxies, i.e., SSB size, CEO-duality and ownership structure, and different efficiency estimation techniques, i.e., SFA and DEA.

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In this paper, we investigate the market structure-performance relationship within the Tunisian banking system during the period 1990-2005. We attempt to distinguish between two theories, namely the Efficient Structure Theory and Market Power Theory. Using the Data Envelopment Analysis Method, we estimate efficiency measures under X-efficiency, Technical Efficiency, Scale Efficiency and Allocative Efficiency. By incorporating into our analyses these forms of efficiency, this study allowed us to test the validity of new hypotheses. The empirical investigation is conducted on profit and price regressions for a sample of 10 commercial banks. The results reject the SCP and Quite life hypotheses under the market power theory but retain the RMP hypotheses. Also, all the hypotheses under Efficient Structure theory are rejected. This result suggests that Tunisian banks do not exert a monopole power entailing the exploitation of customers, yet they are able to extend their market share and generate profits thanks to a diversification of products.

Abstract:In the context of financial liberalization, increased competition has spurred financial institutions to develop new products and new activities in order to meet demand, market development and increased competitiveness. This has made the relationship between market structure and financial stability more complicated and its study through the channel of diversification remains an unexplored area. The purpose of this paper is to test the interaction between market power, diversification and financial (in) stability. To this end, we examine a sample of 18 countries in the MENA region and 157 commercial banks during the period 2000-2013. Supporting the "competition-instability" hypothesis, our results revealed that low market power banks in the MENA region are less robust and more unstable when they less or poorly diversify their activities. Moreover, financial instability in this sector may result from a fierce competition among banks born from the desire to distinguish themselves by offering various nontraditional products, for which banks lack the experience to control its risks.

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