Credit information sharing, corruption and financial development: International evidence

Abstract

This study investigates the individual impact of credit information sharing and corruption as well as their interaction on financial development, using a sample of 120 countries for the period 2004–2017. Public credit registries (PCR) and private credit bureaus (PCB) are used as proxies for the level of credit information sharing, whereas financial development is measured in terms of size, activity and efficiency. We obtain evidence in support of the following arguments. First, PCB has a negative impact on the size of the financial sector, whereas PCR has an insignificant effect. Second, PCB and PCR have a positive impact on the financial intermediation activity, with the magnitude of the latter being higher. Third, PCB and PCR increase the financial sector efficiency, again with the magnitude of the latter being stronger. Fourth, both PCR and PCB reduce the negative effects of corruption on financial sector development, but PCR tends to be more effective, suggesting that PCR may play a more important role compared to that of PCB. The findings survive a battery of robustness tests, including the use of an alternative corruption indicator and sub-sample analysis. Finally, policy implications are discussed.