title: The profitability of banking sectors in the Asia-Pacific region and their contributions to economic growth

authors: Kumar, Vijay

subjects: Non-performing loans

abstract: The banking sector plays an important role in national economies by directing funds from savers to investors who create additional wealth in the economy. Dietrich and Wanzenried (2011) argue that a country’s economic activities cannot run smoothly if its banking sector is not efficient. Athanasoglou, Brissimis, and Delis (2008) argue that a profitable banking sector is necessary to overcome economic shocks. 
This study focuses on ten countries in the Asia-Pacific region which are at different stages of economic development. These countries are of particular interest because of their institutional and regulatory characteristics. The banks in these countries are all subject to similar regulations. For example, they are required to maintain minimum capital adequacy ratios according to the Basel Accords. Furthermore, banks in most of the countries are required to maintain certain proportions of their deposits as cash reserves that cannot be lent out. Based on their stage of economic development, each of the ten countries is classified as belonging to one of three categories: small emerging economies, large emerging economies and developed economies.  
Our study focuses on two important aspects of the banking sector. First, we investigate the extent to which profitable banks make a positive contribution to economic growth. Second, we investigate the determinants of bank profitability. 
The first part of the thesis investigates the relationship between the profitability of banks and economic growth. In order to investigate this relationship, we use data from ten countries in the Asia-Pacific region for the period from 2004 to 2014. In order to address the research questions, we use different econometric techniques such as linear regressions, nonlinear regressions and Granger causality tests. Our results highlight that a profitable banking sector is an important contributor to economic growth. In contrast to our expectations, we find a negative relationship between the size of the banking sector and economic growth. Further, we find that the influence of bank profitability on economic growth decreases when the size of the banking sector increases. The results of our causality tests suggest that causality runs from bank profitability to economic growth but economic growth also has a delayed feedback on bank profitability. 
The second part of this thesis has four empirical chapters that focus on the factors influencing the profitability of banks. First, we investigate the determinants of the profitability of banks in all countries together. Second, we identify the factors influencing the profitability of Islamic and conventional banks in small emerging economies. Third, we investigate the factors affecting the profitability of banks in large emerging markets, and finally, we investigate the determinants of the profitability of banks in developed economies. We use annual data sets of banks for the period from 2004 to 2014 which was gathered from different sources. We use different econometric techniques such as linear regressions and Wald tests to address the research questions. Overall, our results suggest that credit quality, bank size, capital adequacy ratio and cost management are the key factors influencing the profitability of banks in the Asia-Pacific. Cost-efficient banks with superior credit quality are more profitable than their competitors. We find that the impacts of some of the variables vary across regions and countries.

text: The profitability of banking sectors in the Asia-Pacific region and their contributions to economic growth The banking sector plays an important role in national economies by directing funds from savers to investors who create additional wealth in the economy. Dietrich and Wanzenried (2011) argue that a country’s economic activities cannot run smoothly if its banking sector is not efficient. Athanasoglou, Brissimis, and Delis (2008) argue that a profitable banking sector is necessary to overcome economic shocks. 
This study focuses on ten countries in the Asia-Pacific region which are at different stages of economic development. These countries are of particular interest because of their institutional and regulatory characteristics. The banks in these countries are all subject to similar regulations. For example, they are required to maintain minimum capital adequacy ratios according to the Basel Accords. Furthermore, banks in most of the countries are required to maintain certain proportions of their deposits as cash reserves that cannot be lent out. Based on their stage of economic development, each of the ten countries is classified as belonging to one of three categories: small emerging economies, large emerging economies and developed economies.  
Our study focuses on two important aspects of the banking sector. First, we investigate the extent to which profitable banks make a positive contribution to economic growth. Second, we investigate the determinants of bank profitability. 
The first part of the thesis investigates the relationship between the profitability of banks and economic growth. In order to investigate this relationship, we use data from ten countries in the Asia-Pacific region for the period from 2004 to 2014. In order to address the research questions, we use different econometric techniques such as linear regressions, nonlinear regressions and Granger causality tests. Our results highlight that a profitable banking sector is an important contributor to economic growth. In contrast to our expectations, we find a negative relationship between the size of the banking sector and economic growth. Further, we find that the influence of bank profitability on economic growth decreases when the size of the banking sector increases. The results of our causality tests suggest that causality runs from bank profitability to economic growth but economic growth also has a delayed feedback on bank profitability. 
The second part of this thesis has four empirical chapters that focus on the factors influencing the profitability of banks. First, we investigate the determinants of the profitability of banks in all countries together. Second, we identify the factors influencing the profitability of Islamic and conventional banks in small emerging economies. Third, we investigate the factors affecting the profitability of banks in large emerging markets, and finally, we investigate the determinants of the profitability of banks in developed economies. We use annual data sets of banks for the period from 2004 to 2014 which was gathered from different sources. We use different econometric techniques such as linear regressions and Wald tests to address the research questions. Overall, our results suggest that credit quality, bank size, capital adequacy ratio and cost management are the key factors influencing the profitability of banks in the Asia-Pacific. Cost-efficient banks with superior credit quality are more profitable than their competitors. We find that the impacts of some of the variables vary across regions and countries.

year: 2018

title: Fear and uncertainty: The surrogacy triad’s experience of social workers’ role ambiguity

authors: Walker, Ruth

abstract: In New Zealand, as in the UK, the surrogate is the legal mother of the child until parentage is transferred by the court to the intended parents. Social workers are responsible for assessing the intended parents’ suitability to parent and scrutinising the arrangement. However, courts almost invariably transfer parentage, regardless of their recommendations, with the result that social workers experience a significant amount of role ambiguity. We conducted semi-structured interviews with surrogates and intended parents about their experience of surrogacy in New Zealand, focussing on the changes they would like to see in the regulatory framework, particularly with regards to legal parentage and the involvement of social workers in assessing intending parents’ suitability to parent. Thematic analysis of interview transcripts showed that role ambiguity and role conflict experienced by social workers have their corollary in the experience of intended parents and surrogates, where it manifests as either fear that the adoption could be declined or uncertainty about the purpose of the social worker’s involvement. Although participants recommended that their role be eliminated—along with the adoption process itself—we argue that there is a valuable role for social workers at the beginning of the process.

text: Fear and uncertainty: The surrogacy triad’s experience of social workers’ role ambiguity In New Zealand, as in the UK, the surrogate is the legal mother of the child until parentage is transferred by the court to the intended parents. Social workers are responsible for assessing the intended parents’ suitability to parent and scrutinising the arrangement. However, courts almost invariably transfer parentage, regardless of their recommendations, with the result that social workers experience a significant amount of role ambiguity. We conducted semi-structured interviews with surrogates and intended parents about their experience of surrogacy in New Zealand, focussing on the changes they would like to see in the regulatory framework, particularly with regards to legal parentage and the involvement of social workers in assessing intending parents’ suitability to parent. Thematic analysis of interview transcripts showed that role ambiguity and role conflict experienced by social workers have their corollary in the experience of intended parents and surrogates, where it manifests as either fear that the adoption could be declined or uncertainty about the purpose of the social worker’s involvement. Although participants recommended that their role be eliminated—along with the adoption process itself—we argue that there is a valuable role for social workers at the beginning of the process.

year: 2020

title: An evaluation of Te Rau Puawai workforce 100: Perspectives of Te Rau Puawai bursars

authors: Nikora, Linda Waimarie

subjects: Maori students

abstract: The Te Rau Puawai programme is an attempt to change the nature of the Maori
mental health workforce. To do this, Maori with aspirations to work, or to continue to
work in the mental health workforce, are supported, financially and academically, to
complete a tertiary qualification relevant to the field.
To evaluate the Te Rau Puawai programme, the Ministry of Health commissioned the
Maori and Psychology Research Unit of the University of Waikato in July 2001. The
overall aim of the evaluation was to provide the Ministry with a clearer understanding
of the programme including: the perceived critical success factors, the barriers if any
regarding Te Rau Puawai, the impact of the programme, the extent to which the
programme may be transferable, gaps in the programme, and suggested
improvements.
The evaluation team set out to gather the experiences and perspectives of recipients of
Te Rau Puawai services by asking all bursars to complete a questionnaire and
volunteer for follow up interviews or focus groups. Sixty two bursars responded to
our questionnaire, and we complete focus group or individual follow up interviews
with 19 bursars.

text: An evaluation of Te Rau Puawai workforce 100: Perspectives of Te Rau Puawai bursars The Te Rau Puawai programme is an attempt to change the nature of the Maori
mental health workforce. To do this, Maori with aspirations to work, or to continue to
work in the mental health workforce, are supported, financially and academically, to
complete a tertiary qualification relevant to the field.
To evaluate the Te Rau Puawai programme, the Ministry of Health commissioned the
Maori and Psychology Research Unit of the University of Waikato in July 2001. The
overall aim of the evaluation was to provide the Ministry with a clearer understanding
of the programme including: the perceived critical success factors, the barriers if any
regarding Te Rau Puawai, the impact of the programme, the extent to which the
programme may be transferable, gaps in the programme, and suggested
improvements.
The evaluation team set out to gather the experiences and perspectives of recipients of
Te Rau Puawai services by asking all bursars to complete a questionnaire and
volunteer for follow up interviews or focus groups. Sixty two bursars responded to
our questionnaire, and we complete focus group or individual follow up interviews
with 19 bursars.

year: 2002-05-01