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This study aims to investigate the relationship between capital regulation and risk-taking behavior (financial stability) concerning the impacts of the recent global (COVID-19) crisis and diverse ownership structure.

The analysis uses an unbalanced panel data set from 32 commercial banks of Bangladesh for 2000–2020. The authors use the two-step system generalized method of moments and three-stage least squares to produce the study outcomes.

The robust results reveal that the relationship between capital regulation and risk (financial stability) is negative (positive) and bi-directional. More significantly, COVID-19 makes banks fragile and demands more capital to absorb risk. However, the effect of COVID-19 is heterogeneous when the authors consider ownership structure. Among the diverse ownership styles, Islamic and active shareholding show their controlling wheel on capital regulation and risk-taking aptitude (financial stability) during the global (COVID-19) crisis. In normal economic conditions, private banks and minority active shareholding can be a good determinant for capital regulation and risk (financial stability). On the other hand, state-owned and large banks have been found as less capitalized and highly risky.

This study is the pioneer in exploring capital regulation and risk toward the recent global (COVID-19) crisis.

This paper aims to examine the impacts of both Sharīʿah supervision and corporate social responsibility on banks’ risk-taking behavior and profitability. The analysis empirically uses dynamic and balanced panel data from 12 banks of Bangladesh for 2010–2019.

Dynamic panel generalized method of moments has been used primarily to examine the effects of Sharīʿah supervision and corporate social responsibility on risk-taking behavior and profitability. Later, the authors validate the core results using three-stage least squares and incorporates alternative risk and profitability measures in the baseline equation.

This study finds that Sharīʿah supervision heterogeneously derives benefits for Islamic banks and Islamic windows. Though there is no significant impact of female diversity on risk relying on board diversification, the bank can strengthen profitability. On the one hand, the annual changes in board composition reduce (increase) risk (financial and stability efficiency) but compromise profitability. Notably, socially responsible banks have been characterized as risk-averse and better stabilized (in terms of solvency and efficiency), more efficient and profitable.

Very few studies are available in the current literature which examine the impacts of Sharīʿah supervision and corporate social responsibility on either bank performance or risk-taking in the developing economy’s context.

This study aims to show the relationship between competition, financial stability and ownership structure of banks in the Middle East and North African (MENA) countries.

This study uses the generalized method of moments (GMM) estimators to generate research results. This study uses an unbalanced panel dynamic data set. It covers the period 2011 to 2017 in MENA banks.

This study implies that there is a significant and positive relationship between market power and the financial stability of banks in MENA countries. It explains a competitive market focus on credit risk, which turns them risky. From the bank’s ownership view, Islamic banks are in a less risky position which means Islamic banks are more stable than other ownership structures. On the other hand, government specialized institute displays their poor financial stability and risky from other ownership structures. Unfortunately, there is no significant impact of ownership structure on competition unless Islamic banks prove that they (Islamic banks) perform better in market power.

The empirical findings of this study suggest that MENA banks should improve the process of managing and monitoring the non-performing loan (loan segment business). It reduces the level of credit risk, which leads to achieving more profit. It also recommends that loan quality should improve immediately in this region for declining financial disruption. Based on the ownership structure, policymakers and stakeholders should adjust their risk and financial stability. Notably, the stakeholders can focus on Islamic banks in this region as this type of ownership structure showing superiority over other ownership structures.

This study is based on the latest data set and produced outcomes by using a GMM estimator. It also uses multiple measures of competition and risk variables to get robust results. Moreover, to the best of the knowledge, this study is the pioneer to examine the competition, risk (financial stability) and ownership structure of banks in the MENA countries.

The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the impacts of institutional quality (IQ) and economic policy uncertainty (EPU) on bank risk-taking behavior, especially after the global financial crisis of 2007–2008.

After considering the outlier effect, missing figure and inconsistent data, the study’s final sample contains 24,364 firm-year observations of 4,367 banks. A total of 27 countries were considered as those data are available on the “EPU index” introduced by Baker et al. (2016) for 2011–2020. To estimate the core results, the dynamic panel generalized method of moments (GMM) has been used to examine the effects of IQ and EPU on bank risk-taking behavior. Later, this study also validates the core results by using two-stage least squares (2SLS).

The authors found a positive relationship between EPU and banks' risk-taking behavior of banks', but imperatively, a significant and negative relationship exists between IQ and bank risk-taking behavior. This study also has a remarkable and distinct findings from Uddin et al. (2020) one of the vital indicators of IQ quality measurement “voice and accountability” (VACC) impacted negatively on bank risk-taking behavior. It indicates that when VACC is well established, banks tend to take the low risk under the prevailing EPU conditions and vice-versa. Moreover, the lagged dependent variable significantly impacted the bank's risk-taking negatively.

To the best of the authors' knowledge, very few studies endeavored to investigate the dominance or impact level of IQ and EPU on the area, i.e. bank risk-taking behavior which inspired us to contribute to the banking literature to address this issue in a broader aspect – the connection between EPU and bank risk-taking behavior, also a relationship between IQ and bank risk-taking behavior and finally linking them with bank risk-taking behavior.

This paper aims to empirically investigate the impact of bank diversification on performance and risk-taking behavior. The analysis uses an unbalanced panel data set covering the period between 2007 and 2015 for a total of 1,397 banks from ASEAN-5 and BRICS economies.

Dynamic panel generalized method of moments (GMM) has been used primarily to examine the relationship between bank diversification on performance and risk-taking and later, validate the core results by incorporating two-stage least squares (2SLS).

Similar to the results of previous studies based on the developed economy, this study also confirms the hypothesis of the portfolio diversification. The key robust result is that the benefits from revenue and assets diversification are heterogeneous and the BRICS banks achieve higher benefit from using both diversification strategies. On the other hand, ASEAN-5 banks fail to show the significant advantage from assets diversification. Among the diverse sources of income, interest is not a major determinant of efficiency and bank’s stability, while ASEAN-5 banks should foster commission and others income as mechanisms for diversification benefit in the region.

A few studies are available in the current literature which examines the impact of revenue and assets diversification on either bank performance or risk-taking in the developed economy’s context. However, very few studies are found that examine the relationship between bank diversification, performance and risk-taking together. Moreover, to the best of the author’s knowledge, there is a dearth of literature on this topic that built on the comparative analysis between two regions, i.e. ASEAN-5 and BRICS. As a result, the empirical results of this research provide useful information to the stakeholders so that they can enhance bank diversification strategy and implement them successfully by considering the other factors.

This study aims to empirically investigate the effect of managerial ownership on bank value concerning conventional and Islamic bank. The analysis uses a balanced panel data set based on a sample consisting of 480 bank-year observations between 2003 and 2017.

Ordinary least squares, fixed effect and random effect have been used primarily to examine the relationship between managerial ownership and banks' value. Later, the authors validate the core results by using the generalized linear model.

This study provides general support for the claim of interest alignment that encourages bank standards with a high level of managerial ownership and partly opposes the view of the entrenchment effects.In addition, the study finds a U-shaped and insignificant relation between managerial ownership and bank value. This indicates that initially, managerial ownership is a blessing, and later, it becomes a curse in considering bank value. Moreover, bank value affects managerial ownership positively both for conventional and Islamic banks.

A good number of studies are available in the current literature, which examine the impact of managerial ownership on either bank performance or risk-taking. However, very few studies are found that examine the bidirectional relationship between managerial ownership and banks' value. Moreover, to the best of authors’ knowledge, there is a dearth of literature on this topic that is built on the comparative analysis between conventional and Islamic banks.

m-health services for different age groups are becoming an emerging field in the health-care industry, especially in low-resource environments such as developing countries such as Bangladesh. Hence, this study’s primary aim is to identify the factors that influence the middle-aged and elderly’s intention to use m-health services.

This study applied the extended version of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology to explore middle-aged and elderly’s intention to use m-health services. There were 235 respondents, of which 123 (52.34%) were in the middle-aged group, whereas 112 (47.66%) were in the older group. Both groups were found to have more male participants than female participants. The partial least square (PLS) method was used to analyze data.

The study found that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, facilitating condition, technological anxiety and resistance to change (p < 0.05) had a significant influence on middle-aged intention to use m-health services. Social influence and perceived physical condition (p > 0.05) had no significant effect on middle-aged intention to use m-health services. On the other hand, performance expectancy, effort expectancy, facilitating condition and resistance to change (p <* 0.05) significantly influenced the elderly’s intention to use m-health services. However, the social impact of perceived physical condition and technological anxiety (p > 0.05) had no significant effect on the elderly’s intention to use m-health services.

A good number of studies are available in the current literature, examining the factors adoption of m-health services in both developed and developing economy context. However, very few studies examine the factors that influence behavioral intention to use m-health services concerning the two different age groups, such as middle-aged and elderly. Moreover, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, there is a shortage of literature on this topic built on the comparative analysis between the two age groups.

This study examines the relationship between banks' competition performance and risk-taking behavior concerning the impacts of bank size and the recent global financial crisis. The analysis empirically uses dynamic panel data from 1137 banks of the BRICS countries (i.e. Brazil Russia India China and South Africa) for the period 2000–2015.

Dynamic panel generalized method of moments (GMM) has been used primarily to examine the effect of bank competition on performance and risk-taking. Later the paper validates the core results by using three-stage least squares (3SLS) and incorporating alternative measure of competition in baseline equations.

This study confirms the significant impact of competition that complies with the structure-conduct-performance hypothesis quiet life hypothesis and “competition fragility” view. However, the key robust results are as follows: (1) in competitive markets large banks are more efficient than small banks; (2) there is a nonlinear relationship between competition performance and risk; (3) across bank size competition heterogeneously affects profitability efficiency risk and stability; (4) notably small banks are as efficient as large banks during crisis but shared with risk; and (5) small banks also stable during crisis in highly concentrated markets but less stable in competitive environments.

This study promotes higher market power for the bank's profitability and financial stability. More intently policymakers should nurture both cost and revenue efficiency for large banks as these are less efficient than small banks in concentrated markets though these banks produce risk. Hence those banks should be cautious to minimize non-performing loans and maximize stability regarding financial and efficiency. Based on the nonlinear pattern of competition the regulators should adopt different policies for short and long run. It also recommends encouraging commercial and cooperative banks in the BRICS region as these are more efficient risk-averse and better stabilized than other types of banks.

A good number of studies are available in the current literature which examines the impact of bank competition on either bank performance or risk-taking in a single country or cross country analysis. However, very few studies examine the relationship between bank performance and risk-taking behavior concerning the impacts of competition (non-linear and quadratic) size financial crisis and ownership structure together. Moreover, there is a dearth of literature on this topic that built on BRICS economies.

This paper aims to investigate the impact of regulation and market competition on the risk-taking Behaviour of financial institutions in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

The empirical framework is based on panel fixed effects/random effects specification. For robustness purpose, this study also uses the generalized method of moments estimation technique. This study tests the hypothesis that regulatory capital requirements have a significant effect on financial stability of Islamic and conventional banks (CBs) in the MENA region. This study also investigates the moderating effect of market power and concentration on the relationship between capital regulation and bank risk.

The estimation results support the view that capital adequacy ratio (CAR) has no significant impact on credit risk of Islamic banks (IBs), whereas market competition does play a significant role in shaping the risk behavior of these institutions. This study report opposite results for CBs – an increase in the minimum capital requirements is followed by an increase in a bank’s risk level, which has a negative impact on their financial stability. Furthermore, the results support the notion of a non-linear relationship between banking concentration and bank risk. The findings inform the regulatory authorities concerned with improving the financial stability of banking sector in the MENA region to set their policy differently depending on the level of concentration in the banking market.

This study contributes to the literature on the effectiveness of regulatory reforms (in this case, capital requirements) and market competition for bank performance and risk-taking. In regard to IBs, capital requirements are less effective in requiring IBs to adjust their risk level according to the Basel III methodology. This study finds that IBs’ risk behavior is strongly associated with market competition, and therefore, the interest rates. Moreover, banks operating in markets with high banking concentration (but not necessarily, low competition), will decrease their credit risk level in response to an increase in the minimum capital requirements. As a result, these banks will be more stable compared to their conventional peers. Thus, regulators and policymakers in the MENA region should restrict the risk-taking behavior of IBs through stringent capital requirements and more intense banking supervision.

The practical implications of these findings are that the regulatory authorities concerned with improving banking sector stability in the MENA region should proceed differently, depending on the level of banking market concentration. The findings inform regulators and policymakers to set capital requirements at levels that would restrict banks from taking more risk to increase their returns. They are also important for bank managers who should avoid risky strategies in response to increased regulatory pressure (e.g. increase in the minimum required capital level of 8%), as they may lead to an increase in the level of non-performing loans, and therefore, a greater probability of bank default. A future extension of this study will focus on testing the effect of bank risk-taking and market competition on the capitalization levels of banks in the MENA countries. More specifically, this study will investigates if banks raise their capitalization levels during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The analysis of previous research indicates that there is no unambiguous answer to the question of whether IBs perform differently than CBs under different competitive conditions. To fill this gap, this study examines the influence of capital regulation and market competition (both individually and interactively) on bank risk-taking behavior using a large sample of banking institutions in 18 MENA countries over 14 years (2005–2018). For the first time in this line of research, this study shows that the level of market power is positively associated with the level of a bank’ insolvency risk. In others words, IBs operating in highly competitive markets are more inclined to take a higher risk than their conventional peers. Regarding the IBs credit risk behavior, this study finds that market power has a limited impact on the relationship between CAR and risk level. This means that IBs are still applying in their operations the theoretical models based on the prohibition of interest.

This study investigates the role of market concentration and efficiency in banking system stability during the COVID-19 pandemic. We empirically test the hypothesis that market concentration and efficiency are significant determinants of bank performance and stability during the time of crises, using a sample of 575 banks in 20 countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

The main sources of bank data are the BankScope and BankFocus (Bureau van Dijk) databases, World Bank development indicators, and official websites of banks in MENA countries. This study combined descriptive and analytical approaches. We utilize a panel dataset and adopt panel data econometric techniques such as fixed/random effects and the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimator.

The results reveal that market concentration negatively affects bank profitability, whereas improved efficiency further enhances bank performance and contributes to the banking sector’s overall stability. Furthermore, our analysis indicates that during the COVID-19 pandemic, bank stability strongly depended on the level of market concentration, but not on bank efficiency. However, more efficient banks are more profitable and stable if the banking institutions are Islamic. Similarly, Islamic banks with the same level of efficiency demonstrated better overall financial performance during the pandemic than their conventional peers did.

The main limitation is related to the period of COVID-19 pandemic that was covered in this paper (2020–2021). Therefore, further investigation of the COVID-19 effects on bank profitability and risk will require an extended period of the pandemic crisis, including 2022.

This study provides information that will enable bank managers and policymakers in MENA countries to assess the growing impact of market concentration and efficiency on the banking sector stability. It also helps them in formulating suitable strategies to mitigate the adverse consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our recommendations are useful guides for policymakers and regulators in countries where Islamic and conventional banking systems co-exist and compete, based on different business models and risk management practices.

The authors contribute to the banking stability literature by investigating the role of market concentration and efficiency as the main determinants of bank performance and stability during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study is the first to analyze banking sector stability in the MENA region, using both individual and risk-adjusted aggregated performance measures.