Dear Reader,
This is a Powerpoint presentation on Islamic finance which Mahmoud Mohieldin, the Managing Director of The World Bank presented recently in the UK. It may serve to educate laymen like me in Nigeria – both Muslims and Christians – on Islamic finance and its position in the world today, given the ongoing debate on Islamic banking in the country. In addition, the presentation is simple, devoid of excess academic references and terms. Through knowledge and understanding, I think, the prejudice and sentiments in innocent minds could be mitigated.
The document reached me in a powerpoint format which I was unable to com vert to Word. So I just typed it in a Word Document format to enable me post it on my blog. Therefore, any editing error is mine and regretted. The limited features of the blog did not permit for placement of bulleting. I beg the understanding of my readers until i graduate into a full website, which i am about to.
I also presumed the permission of the Managing Director to publicly circulate it on the Internet.
ON RISK SHARING AND ISLAMIC FINANCE: IMPLICATIONS FOR FINANCIAL STABILITY
By Mohmoud Mohieldin, Managing Director, The World Bank (July 6th 2011)
1. The Growth of Islamic Finance
Since the early 1970s, global Shariah-compliant financial assets have grown at about 10% annually.
Shariah compliant assets were estimated by IFSB to be around US $1 trillion in 2010, (Islamic Finance and Global Stability, April 2010, Islamic Finance Stability Board and Islamic Development Bank) representing almost 0.5% of Global Financial Assets that totaled to around US$ 228 trillion. (Global Financial Stability Report, April 2010, International Monetary Fund.)
Islamic finance industry’s profits totaled USD 15 billion and is expected to more than double to USD32 billion over the next 5 years.
Islamic banks deposits ratio to total deposits widely varies between countries (March 2011: Indonesia, 3%; UAE, 11%; Malaysia, 19%), some studies suggested that it will account for up to a range of 40-50% of total deposits in countries with majority Muslim populations within 8 to 10 years.
2. How Is Islamic Finance Different from Conventional Finance?
Conventional Financial institutions operate within a system based on debt and transfer of risk
This raises the probability of disconnecting financial instruments from their underlying assets
Some of the financial tools created to share risk actually resulted in a concentration and intensification of risk
In contrast, Islamic finance emphasizes asset-backing for transaction and is anchored on the principle of risk sharing
Shariah principles ensure a direct link between financial transactions and real sector activities
Shariah principles also prohibit Gharar, the use of excessive leverage and avoids forms of controversial and complex securitization
The analytical conceptualization which has developed since the 1980s, has established that the Islamic financial system has several advantages over the conventional one, mainly:
It is more equitable as it established a direct relationship between lenders and borrowers through which they share the outcome of the ‘partnership, be it profit or loss.
There is a close and direct relationship between the return on savings and investment.
The Islamic system offers a flexible adjustment mechanism in the case of unanticipated shocks.
It ensures that the real values of assets and liabilities will be equal at all points in time.
The rate of return is determined by the real sector, and not by the financial sector.
It protects the exchange/transaction role of a banking system by limiting the risk on deposit balances.
3. Performance of Islamic Finance During the Global Financial Crisis
The recent Global Financial Crisis underscored the dangers of debt-based financial transactions and the speculative use of financial instruments.
Irrational lending practices, high levels of leverage, and the so-called “atomization” of risk through imprudent securitization undermined the very foundations of financial systems in advanced countries.
The crisis generated significant adverse effects:
Global economic slowdown with many advanced countries experiencing recessions and sharp increases in unemployment.
Emerging and developing countries also suffered a shard fall in expert volumes, a deceleration in GDP growth, increased unemployment and a rise in poverty level s in the low-income and middle-income countries.
A recent World Bank policy research working paper emphasized that the global financial crisis has not only shed doubts on the proper functioning of conventional “western” banking, but has also increased the attention on Islamic banking. Academics and policy makers alike point to the advantages of Shariah compliant financial products, as the mismatch of short-term, on-sight demandable deposits contracts with long-term uncertain loan contracts is mitigated with equity elements. In addition, Shariah-compliant products are very attractive for segments of the population that demand financial services that are consistent with their religious beliefs. However, little academic evidence exists on the functioning of Islamic banks, as of yet.
Islamic banks escaped the direct impact of the crisis, as they were not exposed to sub-prime and toxic assets.
A recent IMF Working Paper found that the business model of Islamic banks helped them to mitigate the impact of the crisis.
As Islamic banking services are more connected to the real sector, initially performed well during the crisis yet were severely hit by the second round effects: increased losses threatened the viability of some Islamic financial institutions and some Sukuk issuers defaulted.
4. Some Reflections on the Global Financial Crisis… Seeking Islamic Finance Solutions?
“Western policymakers and economists often portray Islamic financial systems, with their emphasis on shared risk and responsibility in lending as less efficient than western systems that put no strictures on debt. Yet, one can equally argue that Western financial intermediation is far too skewed towards debt, and as a consequence generate unnecessary risk.” (Kenneth Rogoff, Banque de France Conference, Paris, March 2011)
In an attempt to identify a better link between credit-expansion and GDP growth, some macro-prudential measures have been developed:
Credit-GDP-gaps, play a key role in distinguishing between “due and undue” momentum in financial cycles and thereby function as a trigger for many countercyclical measures (including capital buffers).
Setting economically meaningful trigger points is however far from obvious, considering cross-country heterogeneity.
The BIS has found that lower and upper thresholds of 2% and 10% for credit-to-GDP gaps do a reasonable job in anticipating excessive credit growth.
“Yet perhaps scholars who argue that Islamic financial systems’ prohibition on interest generates massive inefficiencies ought to be looking at these systems for positive ideas that Western policymakers might adopt. … In the meantime, the IMF and the G-20 can help by finding better ways to assess the vulnerability of each country’s financial structure – no easy task, given governments’ immense cleverness when it comes to cooking their books. Policymakers can also help find ways to reduce barriers to the development of stock markets, and to advance ideas for new kinds of state-contingent bonds, such as the GDP-linked bond that Yale’s Robert Shiller has proposed. (Shiller bonds, in theory, pay more when a country’s economy is growing and less when it is in recession,)(Kenneth Rugoff, Project Syndicate, March 2011)
“The Islamic financial system has so far been able to gain a very small share of the global financial market and, even if it operates perfectly as desired by the Shariah, it may not be able to create a significant impact on the international financial system in the near future.”
However, he emphasized that the only option for further development of Islamic Financial Services is to explain the system rationally and implement it seriously and sincerely to enhance effectiveness and promote financial health and stability. (Umer Chapra, Octoner 2008)
5. Risk Sharing in Islamic Finance
Risk-sharing characteristics of Islamic finance an also foster financial stability.
By design, Islamic financial instruments do not rely on interest rate-based debt contracts.
Mudaraba (profit sharing) and Musharakah (joint venture) emphasize equitable risk allocation among different parties.
Musharakah in particular ensures that the impact of an adverse development is spread among the participants.
Takaful also has the potential to spread risk among a large number of participants.
Sukuk (certificates of ownership) use the concept of joint ownership of an asset by several financiers, making it more like equity-type financing as opposed to a bond which is a debt instrument.
Reliance on equity and equity-type financing arrangements helps to restrain excessive leveraging
The close linkage between the amount of financing and an underlying asset also helps to limit leverage
The sharing of risk and reward (Al Ghonm bel Ghorm) implies that long-term targets become more important and excessive short-term risk taking is discouraged.
Financial institutions are more like business partners with their clients and have stronger incentives to evaluate financing requests carefully and exercise prudence in extending such financing.
As “business partners”, financial institutions are also more likely to assist borrowers in working through bad times, thus reducing the pressures to sell assets at “fire-scale” prices.
This protects the system against a general fall in asset prices and reduces the probability of cascading defaults.
The sharing of losses also reduces the probability of contagion to the rest of the financial system.
Nonetheless, imprudent behavior by some market participants cannot be completely ruled out.
Strong supervisory oversight therefore is required to ensure proper used o frisk-sharing instruments
Financial institutions also need to enhance their capacity to assess clients through ex-ante screening in terms of ability to manage the project and business, and follow that with ex-post monitoring.
6. Outstanding Issues in Islamic Finance
Need to address the currently favorable tax treatment of debt in many countries, which puts equity and profit/loss sharing arrangements at a disadvantage and encourages leverage
High concentration in banking business, small size and institutional fragmentation.
Islamic capital markets are still relatively young, small and underdeveloped.
Other non bank financial instruments: mortgage, takaful, leasing, microfinance are still very much underdeveloped
Inadequacy of exit rules relating to bankruptcy and insolvency of Islamic financial institutions and sukuk defaults.
Concerns about liquidity risk management.
Weaknesses in corporate governance in some Islamic financial institutions.
Need for more qualified management: the proper mix of skill and conviction.
Limited application: still in transition?
Compliance with Basel III … and consistency with global norms?
7. World Bank’s Engagement with Islamic Finance
Established the Islamic Finance Working Group in 2009 and has been re-launched as the Islamic Economics and Finance Working Group (IEFWG) in 2011. The IEFWG adopts a strategy structured around four pillars
Capacity building and knowledge management
Advocacy to influence policy directions, regulations and standards as well as the development of new products.
Diagonostic and analytical work on Islamic finance
Technical assistance on issues relating to legal, regulatory and institutional frameworks
The Bank has established close working relations with bodies such as the Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB), Accounting and Auditing Organizaiton for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB)
In addition to activities at the global level, the Bank has been active in providing country-level support for Islamic banking
Islamic microfinance in Sudan
Investment guarantees by the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) to cover Islamic financing structures in Djibouti and Indonesia.
6 comments:
Salam Dr. Ya Azimi? Allah ya sanya mu cikin 'yantattun bayinsa. I'm extremely delighted with this presentation. I hope those fighting against Islamic Banking will find it useful. and allow us to exercse our relgious obligation.
You have said it all in your introduction: “Through knowledge and understanding, I think, the prejudice and sentiments in innocent minds could be mitigated.”
But you miss one thing, most of the prejudice arose was not due to lack of knowledge, but rather lack of understanding, for majority of those against Islamic Banking have enough knowledge of what it’s all about but they lack the understanding. Remember, the key to good decision making is not knowledge. It is understanding. We are swimming in the former (Information age) but we are desperately lacking in the later. In other words we are confusing information with understanding. I suggest that this presentation by the MD of the World Bank should be adequately and properly publicized especially among the Christian clergies and bishops.
Recent developments in the global financial markets show a possibility of double-dip recession in the USA economy. And the fear that the US economy will move back into a deeper and longer recession makes recovery even more difficult which if adequate measures are not taken would lead to triple-dip recession. China is already calling for an introduction of a global currency; Europe is also in deep financial cries. All these put together suggests that the conventional financial System has failed and we are in dare need of a system that could bring us out of the economic quagmire. It is therefore high time for the developing nations like Nigeria to focus its attention on the Shariah-compliant Financial Banking otherwise known as Islamic Banking.
AA,
Good effort in further developing awareness. However, we should note the following issues raised in the World Banks' MDs' presentation:
i)there is dearth of objective analysis of the functioning of Islamic banks;
ii)Islamic banking only accounted for less than 1% of global finance;
iii)lack of clear rules of insolvency, bankruptcy and contract defaults.
These issues have implication of the Nigerian context and proponents should be more concern on ways to address them than depending undue criticism. I will suggest the following:
a) The JNI to develop and implement a comprehensive awareness campaign for both the Muslim Ummah and non Muslims.
b)The promoters of JAIZ bank and other promoters of non interest banking must develop capacity not only for their model but also with respect to provision of the same level of customer service satisfaction as is currently available in the conventional interest based banks.
AA,
Good effort in further developing awareness. However, we should note the following issues raised in the World Banks' MDs' presentation:
i)there is dearth of objective analysis of the functioning of Islamic banks;
ii)Islamic banking only accounted for less than 1% of global finance;
iii)lack of clear rules of insolvency, bankruptcy and contract defaults.
These issues have implication of the Nigerian context and proponents should be more concern on ways to address them than depending undue criticism. I will suggest the following:
a) The JNI to develop and implement a comprehensive awareness campaign for both the Muslim Ummah and non Muslims
B)The promoters of JAIZ bank and other promoters of non interest banking must develop capacity not only for their model but also with respect to provision of the same level of customer service satisfaction as is currently available in the conventional interest based banks.
This is a very interesting presentation from the MD of the World Bank, it is also balanced and supported by facts. I noticed also that he quotes some of the recent studies. We need more of such studies to guide the politicians and the business people.
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