Monetary policy and Islamic banks: a critical literature review

This study aims to review to what extent Islamic banks carry conventional monetary policy impulses. Hence, the authors focus to review on the presence or absence of an Islamic financing channel.

A systematic approach to the literature review was adopted. The search criterion is confined to empirical studies that examined the transmission of interest-based monetary policy through Islamic banks’ financing, particularly empirical studies that check the existence of an Islamic bank financing channel of conventional monetary policy. By adopting a systematic approach, over 40 empirical papers published in Scopus and Google Scholar were selected for review and analysis to suggest prospects for future analysis in this field.

The existence of Islamic banks may raise concerns for local central banks, particularly in terms of implementing monetary policies that rely on interest rates. Indeed, the specific nature of the business model of Islamic banks based on the sharing of losses and profits as an alternative to interest rate–based remuneration suggests a priori the non-transmission of monetary policy through these free-interest banks. Despite this, the actual asset structure of Islamic banks may facilitate the transmission of monetary impulses to the economy. Currently, there are limited and inconclusive empirical studies on how Islamic bank financing contributes to the transmission of monetary policy. Additional research is required to fully comprehend the response of Islamic banks to fluctuations in monetary policy interest rates, as well as the factors that impact their reactions.

This literature review is incredibly important as it thoroughly examines a critical issue from both academic and practical perspectives. Analyzing how monetary policy actions can be transmitted through Islamic bank financing is an important task that can provide insights for future research. A straightforward response to this inquiry could assist central banks in formulating effective monetary policy.