Year: 1999
Title:
International Trade in Financial Services, Competition, and Growth Performance
JEL: F40, F12
Authors:
J.F. Francois, Erasmus University
L. Schuknecht, World Trade Organization
Abstract:
In this paper we explore linkages between financial services trade and growth. We offer a formalization of the argument that trade, through the fostering of financial market integration, may yield important long-run effects related to increased competition. The relationships formalized here link long-run economic performance to scale economies and cost structures in the financial services sector, and to market concentration in the sector. We first develop an analytical model. This motivates an econometric exercise. Cross-country growth regressions point to a strong positive relationship between financial sector competition and financial sector openness, and between growth and financial sector competition.
Keywords:
Trade in financial services, GATS, financial sector openness
Contact address: francois at few.eur.nl
Paper URL: http://www.intereconomics.com/francois/text9803.pdf
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