Credit Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa—Sources, Risks, and Policy Responses
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Summary:
In this paper, we analyze credit growth in Sub-Saharan Africa over the past decade focusing on the post-2002 rapid credit growth in select countries. We develop regression models of the fundamental determinants of bank credit and use them to examine whether they can fully explain developments in rapid credit growth countries. We then argue that rapid credit expansion, whether a manifestation of a credit boom or driven by fundamentals, can give rise to prudential and macroeconomic risks. We detail these risks and discuss the choice of policies to mitigate them. We conclude by evaluating the likely impact of the ongoing global recession and financial crisis on credit growth in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Series:
Working Paper No. 2009/180
Subject:
Bank credit Banking Credit Credit booms Foreign banks
Frequency:
Biannually
English
Publication Date:
August 1, 2009
ISBN/ISSN:
9781451873276/1018-5941
Stock No:
WPIEA2009180
Pages:
29
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