Market Structure and Profitability of Chinese Commercial Banks

Abstract

The article uses a sample of four state-owned commercial banks, ten joint-share commercial banks, and all foreign banks in China to examine the changes in market structure and financial performance (profitability) of Chinese commercial banks. The market structure appears to have some influence on the performance of Chinese commercial banks. There are other factors affecting the performance of China's bank market. Although the concentration ratios and the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index indicate the monopolistic nature of China's bank system, which is in a state of monopolistic competition or moderately concentrated now, foreign banks seem to have had some marginal effects on the Chinese banking market.