Technological Progress and the Geographic Expansion of the Banking Industry
We test some predictions about the effects of technological progress on geographic expansion using data
on banks in U.S. multibank holding companies over 1985-1998. Specifically, we test whether over time (a)
parental control over affiliate banks has increased, and (b) the agency costs associated with distance from the
parent have decreased. The data suggest that banking organizations exercise significant control over affiliates that
has been increasing over time, and that the agency costs associated with distance have decreased somewhat over
time. The findings are consistent with the hypothesis that technological progress has facilitated the geographic
expansion of the banking industry.
