Profitability Determinants of the Macedonian Banking Sector in Changing Environment

AbstractThis paper analyzes bank-specific, industry-specific and macroeconomic determinants of bank profitability. Dynamic panel analysis is applied on the sample of 16 banks in the Macedonian banking system in the period between 2005 and 2010. According to the obtained results, among internal factors of bank profitability, the most important one is operating expense management. Further, the profitability is influenced by solvency risk and liquidity risk. Regarding the external variables, economic growth, banking system reform and concentration show significant effect on bank profitability in the Republic of Macedonia