Credit Risk Dynamics in Listed Local Banks in Zimbabwe (2009-2013)

Abstract

This paper looked at credit risk drivers in local listed banks in Zimbabwe by applying a combination of static and dynamic models using monthly decomposed data. Static models used in this study are Pooled OLS, random effect and fixed effect models whilst difference and system GMM were the only two dynamic models analyzed. Findings reveled that credit risk is largely explained by the macroeconomic environment than the internal environment. This thinking was evidenced by insignificance of microeconomic variables in the all static models as well as significances of one microeconomic variable in both dynamic models. The study rendered capital adequacy ratio as statistically significant microeconomic variable in explaining its linkage with credit risk.

Keywords: Zimbabwe, Local banks, Generalized Method of Moments, Dollarization.