The efficiency of Islamic banks versus conventional banks: an empirical study of an emerging economy

The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficiency of two different banking systems operating in Egypt (Islamic versus conventional banks). A sample of 35 banks has been used to examine the technical efficiency before and after the financial crisis using data envelopment analysis model. Evaluating the technical efficiency of Egyptian banks will enable policymakers to support which banking system is more efficient to facilitate the financial inclusion and enhance the economic development.Before the financial crisis, conventional banks outperformed conventional banks with Islamic windows and Islamic banks, scale technical efficiency outperformed pure technical efficiency when analyzing conventional banks and conventional banks with Islamic windows. In terms of Islamic banks, pure efficiency outperformed scale efficiency. After the financial crisis, technical efficiency of all banks decreased. However, pure technical efficiency of Islamic banks has improved as a result of the quality of management and outperformed both conventional banks and conventional banks with Islamic windows. These results imply that Islamic banks have not been affected by the financial crisis. Therefore, the increased adoption and support of the Islamic banks in Egypt is addressed to develop the economy and push forward entrepreneurship projects, support the financial inclusion and the informal economy integration.