BANKING SECTOR AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

Purpose- The most important tool in economic development is investments. Funds are needed for investments. Funds are obtained through domestic savings or foreign sources. Resources are known to be limited. For this reason, strong financial systems are needed. The banking sector is an important element in the financial system. The banking sector provides the collection and use of savings. In other words, the banking sector is closely related to economic development. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between economic development and the banking sector. Methodology- BRICS-T countries are discussed in the study. Panel data for the 2001-2019 period were used. Human Development Index and domestic credit to private sector by banks (% of GDP) were used as variables. First, cross-section dependence tests were performed. Then unit root tests were applied. Heterogeneity was determined by delta test. In the last stage, causality test was applied. Causality was examined by the panel causality test developed by Dumitrescu and Hurlin (2012). Findings- Cross-sectional dependence tests showed that there is crossal-section dependence in the variables and the model. The stationarity of the series was obtained by the CADF test, which is one of the second generation panel unit root tests that takes into account the cross-sectional dependence. Delta test results showed that the slope coefficients were heterogeneous. It has been determined that the cross-sectional dependence and slope coefficients of the model are heterogeneous. The results of the Dumitrescu-Hurlin panel causality test applied showed that there is causality between the banking sector and economic development. Conclusion- The results of the research show that the banking sector contributes to the development of individuals. The increase in human development shows that there are educated, healthy and high-income people in a country. If the banking sector affects human development, human development activities will increase. High-quality human development will increase the level of technological knowledge, productivity in production, and therefore economic growth. Keywords: Banking sector, causality, economic development, human development index, panel data analysis JEL Codes: B26, G20, G21