Financial Intermediation System Research Articles

Risks of generative artificial intelligence in financial intermediation and approaches to their assessment

The subject of the study is the impact of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) on financial intermediation and associated risks. The purpose of the study is to assess the current state of GenAI adoption in financial intermediation, identify potential risks and challenges, and explore the implications of increased use of these technologies. The relevance of the study is due to the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and their increasing impact on financial intermediation, which requires a comprehensive analysis and understanding of possible risks and benefits. The research methodology is based on the study of existing research on this topic,identification of current approaches to identifying risks, empirical analysis, including collection and processing of lists of risks of using GenAI and associated consequences. It is concluded that the variability of definitions in risk assessment GenAIcan create significant obstacles to consistency and coordination of actions between various market participants. Moreover, the lack of unified assessment criteria can lead to underestimation or overestimation of potential threats, which increases the likelihood of system failures and increases risks to the sustainability of the financial intermediation system as a whole.As part of the preparation of the study, responses generated by ChatGPT about the assessment of the risks posed by GenAI were used.

Funding gap in the Hungarian venture capital market

Our study investigates the size of the so-called financing gap in the Hungarian venture capital market, i.e. the amount that can potentially be lent out, which is currently not covered by the Hungarian financial intermediary system on a market basis. The relevant literature will be reviewed to assess the performance and characteristics of the Hungarian market. The Hungarian financial intermediation system, traditionally based on banking, underperforms in all segments of capital market financing, even by Central and Eastern European standards. In our research, we sought to find out whether the available sources of venture capital could meet market needs. Both the number and volume of transactions in the domestic venture capital and private equity markets are low by international standards, and the role of the state is below the average for CEE countries. The novelty of our analysis lies in the fact that there is no similar literature available in Hungary. Our estimation based on linear regression revealed a strong relationship between venture capital investment and current GDP. The difference between the estimated potential risk capital stock and the annual averages zrealized clearly shows the market gap. In addition to the public programmes already implemented, the annual amount of risk capital missing from the domestic market is in the order of EUR 12.5-31.6 million, i.e. roughly HUF 5.1-13.3 billion per year at the euro exchange rate at the time of analysis. If this resource were available, domestic startups would have greater growth opportunities. Our analysis suggests that not only a state presence but even an increase in it, seems justifiable (or at least worth exploring). The research was supported by the National Research, Development and Innovation Office (FK-142492).

Public private partnerships and water and sanitation infrastructure development in Zimbabwe: what determines financing?

BackgroundZimbabwe envisions being an upper-middle-income economy by the year 2030. The vision 2030 has infrastructure development as a stand-out pillar upon which it is founded. The vision envisages well-developed, modern, efficient and resilient infrastructure as paramount to Zimbabwe’s economic recovery. The policy plan seeks to increase infrastructure investments in energy, transport, information technology, tourism, housing, and water and sanitation. However, a still hesitant private sector exists with regard to investment in water and sanitation infrastructure even in developed countries. Thus, the study seeks to analyse determinants of financing water and sanitation public private partnerships in Zimbabwe given that there is no consensus between reseachers on how determinant factors impact PPP investments.MethodsThe study applied Tobit regression methodology on data collected for the 25 years ending 2021 to investigate determinants of financing water sanitation PPPs in Zimbabwe. Tobit regression method is preferred given the censored nature of the investment values of water and sanitation public private partnerships that reached financial closure in Zimbabwe.ResultsIn Zimbabwe, financial market development is a key financing determinant of water and sanitation public private partnerships. Both the capital and bank market development influences infrastructure financing in Zimbabwe`s water and sanitation sector. Moreover, foreign direct investment negatively and significantly relates with water and sanitation public private partnership investments.ConclusionAttracting private investment into Zimbabwe`s water and sanitation sector requires that policy design targets capital and bank market development. Reforms can be achieved through putting in place sound frameworks that facilitate effective financial intermediation systems, enhance market liquidity and lower cost of capital.

Financial inclusion role on energy efficiency financing gaps in COVID-19 period: empirical outcomes of emerging nations

The structural imposed crises of the COVID-19 have halted the system of financial intermediation at large. By this, the energy sector needs huge financing for energy efficiency maximization in the COVID-19 crises. Thus, the current research aims to inquire the role of financial inclusion in filling the energy efficiency financing gaps for the period of COVID-19 outbreak. The governments of many countries are facing fiscal deficits and trying to survive under tight substantial fiscal limitations. So providing a cheap and efficient energy in modern times, under COVID-19 crises, is merely impossible for many economies because the main source of income for energy sector is the energy users, and having inefficient energy for consumption is raising energy poverty at large. Therefore, COVID-19 crises raised a wide energy financing gap in modern times that needs a fix. However, this research is suggesting the system to make financial inclusion structure as effective, to fill the energy financing gap, for post-COVID-19 time, and to develop a viable and sustainable financing option for energy sector in long-run perspective. This study also validated the empirical role of financial inclusion on energy poverty and energy efficiency, with historical data, to justify the significance of financial inclusion for energy financing gap fulfillment. More so, this paper is also recommending new policy implications for the stakeholders to utilize. We believe if the recommended policy recommendations are considered for practice, the energy financing gap in post-COVID-19 era would be mitigated, and there is a high probability to supply the efficient energy to the end users.

Current trends in the development of financial intermediary in the context of military challenges: the Ukrainian case

Introduction. The current situation on the financial market of Ukraine, in the conditions of military challenges, depends not only on financial and economic factors, but also on social, political and security factors. The war defines non-typical rules for the functioning of both financial intermediaries and the financial market in general. Safety of all participants and creation of conditions for access to financial services in conditions of fragility of the financial intermediation system became the main dominant factors. And this, in turn, requires the rapid reorientation of financial intermediaries to remote communication channels, digitization of services, flexible policy in the field of regulation, the search for new alternative sources of replenishment of resources, ensuring financial stability and liquidity, the search for new tools, quick response to challenges related to with wartime activities. All of the above causes considerable pressure on the functioning of financial intermediaries, who are responsible for their financial stability. Goal. Elucidation of the main factors affecting the state of the financial market in the conditions of military challenges; analysis of the real state of financial intermediaries and generalization of factors and reasons for the reduction of market activity and the fragility of systems and financial intermediation; justification of the need to change the policy of prudential supervision; identification of the potential and channels for the introduction of financial innovations to improve the market; outline of the main trends in the development of financial intermediaries in the post-war period. Results. It was found that financial intermediaries in Ukraine work during the period of "shock" challenges caused by wartime. It is shown that their activities are aimed at introducing financial innovations and ensuring stable access of consumers to all financial services. The pragmatism of the functioning of financial intermediaries in the financial services market, their real state, the problems of activity and state regulation are revealed, the challenges faced by financial market participants in the wartime period are emphasized. It is argued that in the conditions of the fragility of the financial intermediation system, ensuring the sustainability and stability of the activity of financial intermediaries, their effective activity, openness and transparency has an important place. The importance of inclusiveness in the activities of financial intermediaries has been demonstrated. It is proven that military challenges became a systemic determinant of the "cleansing" of the financial market, forcing a part of financial intermediaries (usually from the market of non-banking financial institutions) to make a difficult but responsible decision - to leave the market. Under such circumstances, it is important for the state regulator to take preventive measures aimed at supporting this sector of the financial market. Another challenge is operating in conditions of total economic decline and lack of financial resources to fulfill the obligations assumed. Financial intermediaries are ready to make concessions and soften the terms of obligations, however, there should be counter-steps in the system of regulatory policy to create soft rules and requirements in war conditions (reducing the level of provisioning for overdue loans, canceling the norm of the ratio of productive and non-productive assets, the level of profitability and softening of other activity indicators for the period of the war and the determination of a specific and adequate period of recovery in the post-war period). Conclusions. Based on the results of the conducted research, the following conclusions were drawn: new trends are crystallizing in the financial market of Ukraine and in the system of financial intermediation; the issues of introducing technologies for remote and asynchronous access to services provided by financial intermediaries into the activities of financial intermediaries are updated; military challenges cause serious changes in the configuration of the financial market, both in terms of the segmentation of financial intermediaries, and in terms of the introduction of innovations in the financial intermediation system.

Digitalization of the banking sector in Hungary

During the pandemic period, considerable attention was paid to the online digital financial services. Tangible services provide tangible benefits to both the national economy and citizens. Easily accessible and popular options contribute to reducing the use of cash, expanding e-commerce and administration, and raising financial awareness, as well as creating a sustainable financial system. The widespread use of digital services ensures connection to the global world, more effective use of opportunities, and thus success either as an individual, as a company, or as a government actor. The emergence of FinTech applications has also been helped by the fact that while the operation of financial institutions is strictly regulated and controlled by the authorities, the operation of technology companies in this field is tied to far fewer mandatory regulations. It is important to note that there are still many issues to be resolved, one of which is the issue of equal regulation of FinTech companies and traditional banks. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the current state of digital banking in Hungary in the field of residential services and highlight the paths for further development. The main statements of the paper are the following: Overall, the level of digitization of the Hungarian banking system can be considered medium. In connection with the COVID-19 epidemic, the digitization of customer relations and products has come to the fore in the sector. Among the loan products, the overdraft facility for individuals and the degree of digitization of personal loans are the highest. At the corporate level, online loan applications are even less resolved, largely due to the evaluation and assessment of complex collateral requirements and the low prevalence of digital solutions for contracting and signing. This article proposes more sophisticated regulations, since the regulatory issues in digital financial innovation pose challenges for regulators. The main task should be to create the conditions for the competitiveness and safe operation of the financial intermediation system in the digital age, so the digital interfaces and communication platforms should be standardized. Regarding to the current EU regulation, the security elements of the digital payment system should be strengthened.

Not an ordinary bank but a great engine of state: The Bank of England and the British economy, 1694–1844

AbstractFrom its foundation as a private corporation in 1694, the Bank of England extended large amounts of credit to support the British private economy and to support an increasingly centralised British state. The Bank helped the British state reach a position of geopolitical and economic hegemony in the international economic order. In this paper, we deploy recalibrated financial data to analyse an evolving trajectory of connections between the British economy, the state, and the Bank of England. We show how these connections contributed to form an effective and efficient fiscal–naval state and promote the development of a system of financial intermediation for the economy. This symbiotic relationship became stronger after 1793. The evidence that we consider here shows that although the Bank was nominally a private institution and profits were paid to its shareholders, it was playing a public role well before Bagehot's doctrine.

Differences in bank and microfinance business models: An analysis of the loan monitoring systems and funding sources

Microfinance institutions (MFIs) use an alternative financial intermediation system (business model) to offer banking services for the marginal people where collateral-based conventional banking has not been effective. They facilitate collateral-free lending through close loan monitoring and possess a distinct capability to collect savings via donations (besides deposits). We assert that the unique intermediation model presents MFIs with a lower credit risk; however, that comes at the cost of higher business risk. We provide empirical support for our argument by analyzing a broad cross-country dataset comprising banks and MFIs from 68 countries. We show that MFIs maintain a lower non-performing loan ratio but retain higher cash and capital ratios and a smaller deposit ratio than banks. We provide insights into the areas of variation between two dissimilar models for financial intermediation, associated risks, and prospects for integrating them within a common regulatory framework.

ENGLISH: Rethinking Ribā and the ‘Islamic’ Banking Experimentation

The efficiency of a financial intermediation system is assessed by its ability to achieve allocative efficiency, asset transformation and the subsequent economic development. In case of an Islamic Banking and Finance as an alternate financial intermediation system adherence to the injunction of Islam is also critical. A critical appraisal of the state of contemporary Islamic Banking and finance (IBF) reveals that IBF has neither been able to achieve the aspirations of Islamic rhetoric, nor has been efficient in terms of asset transformation and economic development. This paper is an intuitive pursuit to explore the economic sense of established principles of IBF, and the reasons of the persistent divergence of IBF, being accused to be based on ruses and sophistry. Disentangling the varying viewpoints, the underdevelopment of IBF has been attributed to misinterpretation of Ribā, which has been explicated through a narrow fiqhi and legally deterministic approach. Deeming ‘a collaborative and dynamic Ijtihād’ as the elixir, this paper insists on the exigency of revisiting the definition of Ribā through a dynamic and collaborative Ijtihādi effort – i.e. a definition that incorporates the modern modes of economic cooperation and the contemporary financial intermediation ecosystem. The paper articulates Ribā in an agency theoretic framework to eschew expropriation of wealth, and assure protection of property rights, to sustain financial stability and economic development.

Criticality Analysis of Shadow Banking System Deregulation

The objective of our article is to analyze the criticality of the deregulation of shadow banking system in different economic environments. It is defined like a financial intermediation system carried out outside the framework of classical banking and financial activities. Shadow banking system shows a lot of advantages in terms of the financing of the economy. It is an alternative for the investors and the economic agents. So it constitutes an alternative solution to the problematic of access to financial products of the classical banking system. It offers a possibility of diversification and socialization of risks while allowing an objective and more efficient allocation of financial resources without major constraint. Its activities are not illegal and it completes the classical financial banking system. Its usefulness is well established, but the need for its supervision remains an essential concern for economic agents. If shadow banking system is not regulated, it can bring about, in the market of capitals, toxic financial titles which are created by less credible financial entities. This can cause a disturbance of the economy and a deregulation of the global financial system. Like any other financial system, shadow banking has some risks which it spreads in the economic system if an adequate regulation, with well- established norms, does not govern its implementation.

Comparative empirical analysis of financial intermediation systems in Central and Eastern Europe1

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the level of similarity between financial systems in selected Central and Eastern European countries (CEE11) and four models of capitalism in Western Europe identified by B. Amable [The diversity of modern capitalism, 2003]. A comparative analysis in this institutional area was done on the basis of six variables. Three of them represent inputs, that is, institutional determinants, and other three variables describe outputs of institutional regulations. For each of them coefficients of similarity between a CEE11 country and a selected Western European country were calculated, and based on it the similarity hexagons were created. In this paper, two pictures of the institutional arrangements were taken: for 2005 and for 2014. Additionally, an analysis of changes that took place in institutional solutions in the CEE11 countries, based on the variables and the coefficients of similarity, was carried out. The analyses showed that in the area of financial intermediation, the group of CEE11 countries in 2005 was characterized by the greatest similarity to the Continental model of capitalism. The same investigations carried out for 2014 indicate a significant shift in the analyzed area toward solutions typical of the Mediterranean model.

Розвиток системи фінансового посередництва в Україні

Розвиток системи фінансового посередництва в Україні

Relationship Analysis of Islamic Banking between Malaysia and Pakistan

Islamic banking is basically a system of financial intermediation, its primary objective is to avoid receipt and payment of interest. Islam does not only prohibit dealing with interest but also with liquor, pork, gambling, pornography and any other thing which are considered haram according to Shariah. The objectives of the research is to study and describe the Islamic financing techniques used by Islamic banking institutions in Malaysia and Pakistan. For this research seven variables Promotion, Product, Preference, Knowledge, Performance, Problem and Infrastructure was taken. Qualitative technique was used to answer the research objective. The findings of research indicate that lack of awareness of Islamic banking is very high in Pakistan as compared to Malaysia. A few promotions were used by Islamic banks in Pakistan while in Malaysia customers are knowledgeable about Islamic banking because banks promote them aggressively. There is a need of government and education sector support to promote Islamic banking in both countries. The study also found that Islamic banks in Malaysia have large range of products as compared to Pakistan. The practitioners from both countries are agreed at this point that BBA, Ijarah and Murabaha are more profitable and less risky than Musharaka and Mudaraba. The Islamic banking products are almost used for same purposes in both countries while some differences are also exists. 
 Keywords: Islamic Finance, Comparative Study, Malaysia, Pakistan

Relationship Analysis of Islamic Banking between Malaysia and Pakistan

Islamic banking is basically a system of financial intermediation, its primary objective is to avoid receipt and payment of interest. Islam does not only prohibit dealing with interest but also with liquor, pork, gambling, pornography and any other thing which are considered haram according to Shariah. The objectives of the research is to study and describe the Islamic financing techniques used by Islamic banking institutions in Malaysia and Pakistan. For this research seven variables Promotion, Product, Preference, Knowledge, Performance, Problem and Infrastructure was taken. Qualitative technique was used to answer the research objective. The findings of research indicate that lack of awareness of Islamic banking is very high in Pakistan as compared to Malaysia. A few promotions were used by Islamic banks in Pakistan while in Malaysia customers are knowledgeable about Islamic banking because banks promote them aggressively. There is a need of government and education sector support to promote Islamic banking in both countries. The study also found that Islamic banks in Malaysia have large range of products as compared to Pakistan. The practitioners from both countries are agreed at this point that BBA, Ijarah and Murabaha are more profitable and less risky than Musharaka and Mudaraba. The Islamic banking products are almost used for same purposes in both countries while some differences are also exists.

Crises in Economic Thought, Secular Stagnation, and Future Economic Research

Crises in Economic Thought, Secular Stagnation, and Future Economic Research

Debt Instruments in Islamic Finance: A Critique

This article assesses the employment of traditional Islamic debt instruments by contemporary Islamic banks from an economic efficiency perspective. We highlight the fact that the performance of the bulk of the instruments pales in front of the modern facility of participating preferred ijāra. Thus, the shortcomings of the traditional instruments illustrate that the future does not augur well for either the Islamic banking industry or the emerging Muslim economies. For the Muslim world to move beyond its current malaise, it is necessary to scientifically restructure its financial intermediation system in such a way as to meet the challenges of the modern age also conforming to the spirit of the Sharīʿa.

Ризики впровадження сек'юритизації активів в Україні

The article presents the results of a research on the activities aimed at streamlining the securitization in the European financial and institutional coordinates and orienting it to the post-crisis recovery by creating effective and prudent incentives for operating activities of the operators on the securitization market. The author defines the main purpose of active rehabilitation of securitization in the EU, which is reviving market crediting on the part of the sleeping European banking system, which even with the low interests and high refinancing rates fail to meet the needs of the real economy. Our study demonstrates that active recovery of the securitization market is considered today as one of the ways to create the Capital Markets Union, and should serve the purpose of greater integration in the European financial and institutional space, and extend the funding of the real economy through the creation of alternatives to bank lending. At the same time, it demonstrates certain contradictions of the current securitization both in the context of its actual influence on the operating activities of the banking institutions, and in the aspect of fundamental transformation of the system of financial intermediation caused by the mechanisms of securitization. The article presents conclusions concerning, on the one hand, the unavailability of Ukraine's financial and institutional environment to actively use the securitization mechanisms, and, on the other hand, their obvious inappropriateness in the context of the consolidation of the post-crisis development as for formal reasons, and for the reasons of underlying fundamental nature.

VALUATION SYSTEM OF THE STRUCTURE OF FINANCIAL INTERMEDIATION POST-SOVIET COUNTRIES AND THE USA

Дослідження системи фінансового посередництва та аналіз його структури в пострадянських країнах виявляє такі характеристики: відсутність потужностей з виробництва і відтворення довгих грошей; недостатня різноманітність інструментів накопичення; обмежене поле заощаджень. З інститутів фінансових посередників, як правило, розвинені банківська система та інститути, що працюють з короткими грошима. Превалюють механізми розвитку через стимулювання попиту. При такій політиці неможливо домогтися необхідних структурних змін в економіці.

Rationalizing Hybrid Financial Instruments from an Uṣūlī Perspective

This article attributes the prime reason for the underdevelopment of the Arab and Muslim world to the lack of advancement of their financial intermediation systems. We instigate the employment of hybrid financial instruments to re-invigorate their financial architecture. Not only does this solution satisfy the economic efficiency prerequisites, it is also in congruent with uṣūl al-fiqh (principles of Islamic jurisprudence).

Credit constraints, firm ownership and the structure of exports in China

We investigate how the export performance in China is influenced by credit constraints. Using panel data from Chinese customs, we show that credit constraints affect the sectoral composition of exports. We confirm that credit constraints provide an advantage to foreign-owned firms and joint ventures over private domestic firms in sectors with higher levels of financial vulnerability. We show that these distortions have been lessened over the period in conjunction with the reduction of State control over the financial intermediation system.