Global Financial Market Integration Research Articles

Global Financial Market Integration: A Literature Survey

This article undertakes a literature review on the topic of market integration, covering over 380 articles from the 1980s to 2024. The review consists of a qualitative analysis for context and a quantitative analysis for content, identifying key research streams and proposing directions for future research. I have identified six research groups: (1) market segmentation, (2) portfolio diversification, (3) market integration evidence from developed and emerging markets, (4) spillovers and linkages, (5) economic market integration, and (6) financial market integration and volatility. The literature focuses on market integration; it aims to answer the following questions: (1) What is the scope of market integration research? (2) What are the direct influences of market integration looking at top journals and authors and characteristics of most studied and cited topics? (3) What are the past and recent topics studied within the area of market integration? (4) What are the potential future research questions to explore in market integration? The topic of market integration has been controversial in many studies, as seen in policy decision-making, investments, and other related areas; this literature will provide great benefit for such an audience.

Volatility spillover and hedging strategies between the European carbon emissions and energy markets

Much attention has been paid to the complex risk transmission between carbon and energy markets along with the increasing global financial market integration. This research thus uses the DCC-MVGARCH model and spillover index method to investigate volatility linkages between the European carbon emissions and energy markets. The results make it clear that there are indeed volatility correlations and bidirectional spillover effects for the above two markets. In particular, the volatility correlations and the spillover index dramatically change when global economic turbulence and political events occur. Apart from the strongest volatility correlation between coal and carbon markets, the volatility spillover effect from the renewable energy market to the carbon market is gradually increasing. The role of the carbon market is also changing: the net information recipient becomes a transmitter from phase II to phase IV. Therefore, our findings provide investors with flexible portfolio strategies by making full use of dynamic volatility linkages between the two markets. This research also gives a decision-making basis for market regulators to improve the carbon market's risk management mechanism. It means that regulators should pay close attention to potential market risk sources. Further policy recommendations are put forward in the conclusion section.

Two centuries of global financial market integration: Equities, government bonds, treasury bills, and currencies

We perform the longest and broadest study of time variation in global financial market integration ever conducted. Using a unique comprehensive dataset, we examine returns on equities, government bonds, treasury bills, and currencies in 83 countries through a period of almost two centuries. The study discloses that the integration progresses in peaks and troughs instead of linearly. Although the post-2000 markets exhibit the strongest integration in history, certain asset classes in 1860 and 1930 recorded comparable levels. The high degree of current integration is a result of the surge that commenced as recently as 1970, rather than a consequence of a multi-century gradual process.

On the global financial market integration “swoosh” and the trilemma

We propose a measure of financial market integration based on a factor model of equity returns computed back to the first era of financial globalization for 17 countries. Global financial integration follows a “swoosh” shape – high pre-1913, higher post-1990, low in the interwar period – rather than other shapes hypothesized in earlier literature. We find no evidence of financial globalization reversing since the Great Recession, as claimed in other recent studies. We use our measure to revisit the debate on whether the classic monetary policy trilemma has recently morphed into a dilemma and find no evidence for such change.

On the Global Financial Market Integration Swooshh and the Trilemma

We propose a simple measure of de facto financial market integration based on a factor model of monthly equity returns, which can be computed back to the first era of financial globalization for 17 countries. Global financial market integration follows a “swoosh” shape – i.e. high pre-1913, still higher post-1990, low in the interwar period – rather than the other shapes hypothesized in earlier literature. We find no evidence of financial globalization reversing since the Great Recession as claimed in other recent studies. De jure capital account openness and global growth uncertainty are the two main determinants of long-run global financial market integration. We use our measure to revisit the debate on the trilemma between financial openness, the exchange rate regime, and monetary policy autonomy, and on whether the trilemma has recently morphed into a dilemma due to global financial cycles. We find evidence consistent with the trilemma and inconsistent with the dilemma hypothesis, both throughout history and for the recent decades; non-US central banks still exert more control over domestic interest rates when exchange rates are flexible in economies open to global finance.

The global financial market integration of selected emerging markets

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the degree of integration of emerging markets with the world market and amongst them. Further, the impact of the 2008 global financial crisis (GFC) on and structural breaks in the degree of integration are explored. The paper, additionally, analyses the behaviour of the level and the rate of change of the degree of integration around the period of the GFC.Design/methodology/approachThe paper relies on the R2 from a single factor world and the incremental R2 from a two-factor world and emerging market models as proxies for the global and emerging markets degree of integration, respectively. Relying on the Quandt test for unknown structural breakdates, the paper examines structural breaks in the degree of integration.FindingsThe degree of global integration of emerging markets exceeds their degree of integration with themselves, particularly in the recent period. Additionally, the GFC is a significant driver of the recent increase in world market integration. We observe significant structural shifts in both the degree of the world and emerging markets integration measures. The breaks in the world market integration largely coincide with the GFC, whereas that of the emerging market integration is dispersed. Also, the level of the world market degree of integration has reversed recently, although, the degree of world market integration remains above pre-crisis point.Practical implicationsThere exist high country-specific components in emerging market returns that are not accounted for by the world and emerging market factors despite the recent increase in global integration. Thusly, portfolios that diversify across emerging markets appear to have a high diversification potential. Additionally, substantial diversification gains may be realised with the inclusion of emerging market assets in global portfolios.Originality/valueThe paper shows that the emerging markets respond similarly to common global, although, diversely to emerging markets events. Additionally, evidence of the impacts of the GFC on the degree of global integration of emerging markets is presented.

China and emerging economies in global financial governance: Legitimacy, accountability and democracy

Global financial governance refers to the way in which global financial affairs are managed. As there is no global government, global financial governance typically involves a range of actors including states, as well as regional and international organizations aimed at negotiating responses to problems that affect more than one state or region, far from only providing the public good of financial stability through global economy integration and global financial legislation. In geopolitical context of the 21st century, emerging economies still have maintained a low profile in global financial governance, despite their growing economic power and the rhetoric of being a responsible great power, and there is little evidence that they will seek international leadership. Moreover, compared to the other emerging powers in the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) group, China has under-participated in global governance in terms of contributing personnel, finance and ideas to major multilateral institutions and programs. It is really an interesting question in international economics and politics area. Firstly, this paper examines comparative data on the emerging economies countries’ participation in global financial governance and explains the reason why China has relatively low involvement in global financial governance. Secondly, this paper analyzes norms and legitimacy in global financial governance, and thus outlines the emerging economies constraints on public policy of global financial market integration in the light of the foregoing analysis of legitimacy, accountability and democracy. Finally, some global financial governance development strategy and possible policy solutions are discussed as well.

Time-varying industry beta in Indian stock market and forecasting errors

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to empirically estimate industry beta in Indian stock market with three alternative models and compare the accuracy of forecasting error to find the most suitable model for time-varying beta estimation. Design/methodology/approach – The paper applies the standard regression model, Kalman filter model, other statistical approaches and secondary material. Findings – The paper finds that the existence of dynamic beta in Indian market. The results also indicate systematic risk or beta of Indian industries is susceptible to the global economic effect. Finally, the Kalman filter generates the lower forecasting error compared to the other method for almost all the industries. Practical implications – The accurate estimation of beta which is a measure of systematic risk helps investors to make investment decision easier. The implication of this result is important for finance practitioners such as portfolio managers, investment advisors and security analysts. This study will help to determine the country risk with respect to the global index and analyze the global financial market integration effect on India. Originality/value – This paper reliably estimate industry portfolio beta for India. The time-varying beta is estimated using Kalman filter method which is rarely applied in Indian literature. This paper contributes by extending the knowledge of existing literature by introducing a new data set with Indian data which is not affected by the “data snooping” bias. This study will also help to determine the country risk with respect to the global index and analyze the global financial market integration effect on India.

The Equity Risk Premium: Empirical Evidence from Emerging Markets

The analysis of the Equity Risk Premium (ERP) and the research e! orts aimed at solving the Equity Premium Puzzle (Mehra and Prescott 1985), are still widely discussed in the economic and financial literature. The purpose of this paper is to show that di! erences in the ERP between developed and emerging markets lead to many empirical asset pricing issues. Using data from both markets, we first provide an ex-post simple time series analysis on the ERP. Compared to developed markets, and in line with existing literature, we find that emerging markets compensate investors with higher returns. We observe that the time varying nature of the ERP in emerging economies, relates mainly to economic cycles, shocks and other macro phenomena (i.e. global financial market integration). Basic statistics also show that during the last decade the ERP shrunk, especially in advanced economies. To improve investigations on the higher emerging markets’ equity premium, a standard global asset pricing model is adopted. On one hand, we mainly find that the one-factor model does not fully predict emerging markets’ equity premia. On the other hand, we discover that the inclusion of liquidity conditions and time-varying components provides reasonable explainations for the behaviour of equity premia in these “young” markets. Our final findings mainly suggests that global business cycle and financial integration process are crucial in determining the risk associated to emerging markets’ investments.

Norms, Legitimacy, and Global Financial Governance

Despite regular and serious systemic volatility, reform of international financial architecture remains limited, retaining market-oriented characteristics and adjustment mechanisms. A failure of the architecture to focus on the political underpinnings of global financial and monetary governance yields crucial deficiencies. The article defends three propositions implying a serious challenge to political legitimacy in contemporary financial governance: i) external financial constraints conflict with a range of potential domestic, particularly democratic, political imperatives; ii) developed state initiated global financial integration strengthens private interests in the policy process, narrowing the definition of the public interest in a democratic context; iii) market-friendly institutional reforms put pressure on domestic socio-political arrangements underpinning longer run political legitimacy. The article first analyses norms and legitimacy in global financial governance; then outlines the constraints on public policy of global financial market integration in the light of the foregoing analysis of legitimacy; thirdly it discusses possible solutions.

Measuring the cost of equity in African financial markets

Researchers are divided over whether financial liberalisation, and the associated increase in global financial market integration, leads to economic growth. Increased global integration should lead to a lower cost of equity, thus reducing the hurdle rate for the acceptance of capital projects within firms and ultimately manifesting in increased growth. This paper adds to the empirical evidence by measuring the cost of equity in a sample of African equity markets on a sector-by-sector basis. It is found that the cost of equity across most sectors and across all markets, with the exception of Morocco, declined during the 1990s. Sectors with the largest market capitalisation in each market are shown to enjoy the lowest costs of equity and have experienced the largest declines in cost of equity over time. The results suggest that analysis using sector level data reveals important attributes in emerging financial markets that may determine whether those economies benefit from financial liberalisation.

Globalization and financial market integration

This article analyses some of the underlying global financial forces and the process by which the international institutions have evolved and their present contributions to global financial issues in the 21st century. The paper highlights the key principles that are necessary for further global financial market integration and the process of globalization. The paper argues that a holistic approach is needed in order to ensure that the process of globalization leads to international financial stability and global security. The paper also highlights the dynamic effects of a global system including the way multinational corporations can increase their investment and business activities with greater international capability in their contribution to the process of financial market integration.