Cantonal Bank Panel Data Set

Self-compiled, balanced panel dataset of 21 Swiss cantons and their respective cantonal banks over 61 years (1960-2020). The dataset contains bank variables like return on equity, capital ratio, interest rate spread, mortgage ratio and branch density as well as reform variables denoting which reforms cantonal banks underwent during the period.
The purpose of the data is to test whether cantons have changed their conception of public ownership by testing the effect of reforms on performance (ROE) and bank metrics, which capture the social welfare function of banks. Cantonal banks were originally founded to serve an underbanked cantonal public by providing stable and inexpensive banking services for borrowers and savers.
The data shows that reforms, summarized in a commercialization index, boosted the return on equity, lowered capital ratios, increased the net interest rate spread and decreased branch density. The results imply that a trade-off exists between reform-induced profitability increases and social welfare, as commercialization increased risk by lowering capital ratios, increased the costs of financial intermediation by widening spreads, and reduced bank service coverage in the respective canton.