The Competitive Structure and Strategic Positioning of the Bank Industry in the Face of Major Environmental Disturbances: A Study of Brazilian Banks

ABSTRACT This work looks into the dynamics of the competitive structure and strategic positioning of Brazilian banks. Over the eighteen years covered by the study, we saw periods of strategic instability in this industry and differing structures of strategic groups, with regard to not only their number, but also their composition. Our study therefore provides empirical evidence that we will hardly find periods of full strategic stability. These findings denote that, at some moment, there is a change in the strategic positioning of these firms and provides insight with regard to the competitive patterns of an industry over the period.