Evaluation of the space-time effects of Covid-19 on household loans and savings in Romania - A spatial panel data approach at county level

This article examines the effects of the Covid-19 crisis on the banking sector of Romania using a spatial panel dataset of 21 months, from April 2020 to December 2021, among 41 counties. The empirical setup exploits the spatial and time-series variations of the banking sector during the pandemic via means of exploratory data analysis, simple linear models for each month with spatial diagnosis, and spatial panel data models with fixed effects. County-level differences and particular disturbances in the trend of banking services are highlighted against the turning points of the pandemic. We show that increasing Covid-19 infections result in higher loans and savings per capita, with significant spatial interactions given by the neighboring counties. • Spatial and Temporal Variations. Analyzing the pandemic's impact on banking services in Romania. • County-Level Differences. Distinctive differences at the county level are identified, highlighting specific disruptions in banking trends. • Correlation with Covid-19 Infections. We found a noteworthy relationship between public health crises and banking behavior. • Spatial Interactions. We show the interconnectedness of banking trends in geographically adjacent regions during the pandemic.