Essays on Economic Policy (ESPE in Spanish) - Financial Transaction Tax and Banking Margins: An Empirical Note for Colombia
In the journal Essays on Economic Policy (ESPE) - we disclose the results and policy proposals that arise from academic research carried out at the Banco de la República. When you read us, always keep in mind that the content of our articles, as well as the analyzes and conclusions derived from them, are the sole responsibility of their authors. The material disclosed in our ESPE magazine does not compromise or represent the opinion of Banco de la República or that of its Board of Directors.
Abstract
Taxes on financial transactions have been especially controversial because of their potential effects on banking disintermediation. A modality of such taxes (Bank Debit Tax, BDT) was introduced in Colombia since the late nineties. Using monthly panel data from 1996 to 2014 for the major depository institutions, this paper provides evidence on the effects of the BDT on bank intermediation spread. For the total sample (thirteen banks), results suggest that nowadays the hypothetical elimination of the BDT would reduce spreads in 60 basis points, i.e. from 7.7% to levels close to 7.1%. The results do not provide clear evidence of differential impacts by bank size. Additional instruments of the financial repression as well as other determinants of banking spreads confirm the expected effects.
