Sectoral Distribution and Islamic Finance: Comparative Study of Conventional and Islamic Banks in Bahrain

Abstract

The proponents of Islamic finance argue that unlike conventional finance it emphasizes the real economy. Such emphasis should be reflected in the sectoral distribution in an economy. In this paper, in light of a conceptualization of the real economy, the sectoral distribution of financial activities of conventional and Islamic banks in Bahrain is explored. The paper uses the data available from the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) regarding the sectoral distribution in both conventional and Islamic banks. The breakdown of banks into both retail and wholesale banks as well as onshore and offshore banks is examined to identify any important trends or patterns in light of the conceptualization of the real economy. The analysis of data finds certain concentration in the real estate sector. Islamic banks also have a bias toward consumer finance, which has implications in promoting a debt culture. Several other gaps between the commonly proclaimed merits of Islamic finance and the praxis in reality are also identified. The research is based on a single country, Bahrain, a financial hub for both conventional and Islamic banks. Even though Bahrain has a diversified economy, it is still limited in terms of some key sectors, such as manufacturing and agriculture. Thus, broader study including other countries with major presence of Islamic banks would be the next step in this research. Bias to certain sectors can be problematic in case of a potential crisis. Also, in certain respects, such as bias of Islamic banks toward consumer finance, it might be serving to promote debt culture that many developed countries are already beset with. The research can create better awareness about various patterns of sectoral distribution.