Convergence of Bank Efficiency in Emerging Markets: The Experience of Central and Eastern European Countries

In this study, we investigate the effect of the European Union integration process on banks' efficiency and the convergence of cost efficiency across banking systems from Central and Eastern European countries for the period 2004-10. We observe large differences in the levels of cost efficiency among national banking systems, and we notice an increase in banking efficiency for all banking systems until 2008. However, starting with 2009, the evolution of the average scores of cost efficiency declines. The results provide evidence of β-convergence and σ-convergence in terms of cost efficiency among the banking systems, especially during the period 2009-10.