The Effect of Government Intervention in Banking Sector on Bank's Financial Stability in Iran

In this paper, the effect of government intervention in the banking sector (financial repression) on banks’ financial stability is investigated during 2001-2013. To measure the index of government intervention in the banking sector, three variables including real interest rate, credits directed by banks and government debt to banks are combined using principal component analysis. Furthermore, the z-score index is applied to measure the financial stability in the banks. Data are extracted from balance sheets and income statements of the banks. Results from a panel of 14 banks show that the intervention of government in the banking sector is of significantly negative effect on financial stability of these banks and therefore increases their financial vulnerability. Moreover, an increase in size of bank improves the financial stability, but higher debt-to-asset ratio increases the banks’ financial vulnerability.