Social welfare and bank performance: evidence from a stochastic neural hybrid MCDM approach

Purpose This paper investigates the endogenous relationships between banking performance and social welfare in Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries. Design/methodology/approach A comprehensive three-stage multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approach based on alternative informational assumptions is applied. Findings Results indicate that paradoxically associated with stagnant economic activity higher wealth concentration for minority. The authors found SADC promotes Human Index (HDI) standards possibly via efficient financial intermediation, dissemination of best managerial practices other forms positive spillovers these Originality/value contributes to MCDM literature by simultaneously exploring key concepts “utility functions” (using COPRAS) “distance ideal solutions” TOPSIS) mapping explaining feedback cause-effect processes may exist. Another distinctive aspect related computation bias-free criteria weights, using a robust SWARA order-rank information entropy. Finally, this concerning endogeneity measurement, novel stochastic structural relationship non-linear programme.