Private Commercial Banks and Economic Growth in Ethiopia: Panel Data Analysis

Abstract

The purpose this study is to investigate the role of private commercial banks on economic growth in Ethiopia, and their direction of causality for a period of 10 years from 2008-2017. The data was sourced from the National Bank of Ethiopia, Ministry of Finance and Economic Cooperation-MoFEC, Central Statistics Agency (CSA). To undertake this study, eight private commercial banks were purposively selected out of sixteen which currently operating in Ethiopian banking industry. In analyzing the relationship between private commercial banks and economic growth the study applied Unit root tests, Kao Residual co-integration test, and Granger causality test. Moreover, the study used both descriptive statistics and econometric analyses. The Random effect model was used for econometrics analysis. The study found that a positive and significant relationship among profits, loan and advance and labor force with economic growth whereas there is negative and a significant relationship between branch network and economic growth. Furthermore, the study found unidirectional causal relationship moving from loan and advance, and profit to economic growth while there is no causality between asset, deposit and RGDP. There is a bidirectional between branch network and economic growth. Finally, the policy makers and stakeholders should make policies to enhance the banking sector in Ethiopia because profits, loan and advances are significantly contributing in the economic growth of Ethiopia.