The Impact of Banking Sector Stability on the Real Economy

Pierre Monnin and Dr. Terhi Jokipii

Issue
2010-05

Pages
31

JEL classification
E20, E44, G21

Keywords
Banking sector stability, real output growth, output growth forecasts

Year
2010

This article studies the relationship between the degree of banking sector stability and the subsequent evolution of real output growth and inflation. Adopting a panel VAR methodology for a sample of 18 OECD countries, we find a positive link between banking sector stability and real output growth. This finding is predominantly driven by periods of instability rather than by very stable periods. In addition, we show that an unstable banking sector increases uncertainty about future output growth. No clear link between banking sector stability and inflation seems to exist. We then argue that the link between banking stability and real output growth can be used to improve output growth forecasts. Using Fed forecast errors, we show that banking sector stability (instability) results in a significant underestimation (overestimation) of GDP growth in the subsequent quarters.