bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Exercise Class Experience: An Opportunity to Promote Student Wellbeing During the HSC
Authors: Hagarty Danielle , Currie Janet
Published: December 2016

Research reveals that approximately 40% of Year 12 HSC students and 25% of Year 11 HSC students experience symptoms of depression, anxiety and or stress exceeding the normal or expected values. Numerous studies show that female students report higher levels of psychological distress than their male counterparts. Female secondary school students also report poor lifestyle behaviours such as low levels of physical activity participation. This is despite research demonstrating physical activity interventions as an effective means of promoting wellbeing. However, it has not been well documented whether physical activity interventions are considered beneficial by HSC students at this stressful time of their lives. Therefore, the current study explores the experiences among a group of female HSC students (n=6) (mean age = 17 years) regarding their involvement in a once per week, 8 week exercise class program. Each participant reported at least one perceived benefit relating to their involvement in the 8-week exercise class program. A perceived increased level of access to physical activity was identified by the participant group. After taking part in the program, reductions in individual subjective stress, increased social interaction, improved self esteem and improved mood states were all identified by the participants as perceived benefits of exercise class participation. It is recommended that secondary schools in Australia focus on providing supportive environments for health by offering HSC students the chance to take part in conveniently located, free of charge exercise classes.
Understandings and experiences of wellbeing in a New Zealand senior secondary context
Authors: Soutter Anne Kathryn , O'Steen Billy , Gilmore Alison
Published: December 2016

This article draws upon data generated through interviews with and classroom observations of Year 13 students and their teachers in New Zealand to propose that wellbeing is viewed as a multi-dimensional, complex phenomenon involving seven interrelated domains: Having, Being, Relating, Thinking, Feeling, Functioning, and Striving. Student and teacher commentary indicated that educational experiences reflect an emphasis on developing wellbeing-enhancing Assets including Having resources and support, Being an independent individual, and Relating well with teachers. In addition, Functioning efficiently in assessment-related activities and Striving towards acquisition of credits were considered important aspects of engaging in Actions that will lead to wellbeing in the future. In contrast, cognitive and affective Appraisals, such as Thinking creatively, critically, or meta-cognitively, or Feeling and expressing a wide range of emotions, were considered peripheral to their current educational experiences. Overall, data suggests that while understood in terms that reflected a view of wellbeing as a complex, learning system, wellbeing was experienced in the school context more simplistically. Implications for the development of wellbeing-enhancing educational experiences are discussed.
CYBERBULLYING AND PUBLIC POLICY: AN EVOLUTIONARY PERSPECTIVE
Authors: Berg Chris
Published: December 2016

This article is a comment on Peta Spyrou’s article in this volume entitled ‘Civil Liability for Negligence: An Analysis of Cyberbullying Policies in South Australian Schools’. It considers three aspects of the problem: the first focuses on the implications of the fact that  cyberbullying is not a new form of social activity but is rather a new form of bullying; the second explores some of the possible policy and social responses to the problem; and the third draws from the insights of evolutionary economics and underlines the importance of respecting the rights of children both to be protected from bullying as well as to develop their identities.
THE FUTURE OF THE NBL: REVIEWING THE PLAYER POINTS SYSTEM AND THE OVERALL SUSTAINABILITY OF THE LEAGUE
Authors: Borutz Olaf
Published: December 2016

This article reviews and responds to the analysis completed by Jacob Holmes in the primary article ‘Professional Sport and Market Restrictions: Is the Player Points System in the Australian National Basketball League an Unfair Restraint of Trade?’. It adopts the position that until such time as the NBL is able to sustain its current format and competition, no change should be made. It also argues that it is unlikely that the courts will in fact hold that the NBL’s Player Points System does amount to a restraint of trade, given its reasonable nature and overall objectives of developing an equal and level playing field for the entire sport.
Allowances For Breaching Fiduciaries To Ensure That The Principal Who Seeks Equity Must Do Equity: Why Not Quantum Meruit?
Authors: Kantic Anja
Published: December 2016

This article considers the potential application of unjust enrichment on a quantum meruit basis to the assessment of allowances for breaching fiduciaries. It briefly outlines the jurisprudential basis for these allowances and then explores the role of unjust enrichment in awarding relief to a breaching party to a contract. Although such a party has breached the contract, quantum meruit operates to ensure that they are fairly compensated for work done or effort expended. The article argues that there are substantial similarities between the position of the party who has breached a contract and that of the breaching fiduciary. It is therefore useful to explain the potential application of quantum meruit to the assessment of allowances for breaching fiduciaries to ensure that the principal who seeks equity must do equity.
The Irish Bar: An Identity Familiar To All
Authors: Baker Clarrie
Published: December 2016

With Irish bars becoming widespread, this article endeavours to identify what it is that makes the brand of 'Irish Bar' so comforting to its clients.
Illustrative Reflections: Self-fashioning Practices at ECA
Authors: Introna Isabelle , Dunn Alexandra
Published: December 2016

No abstract.
Multiple Motives: Selfishness, altruism and reciprocal exchange in a Scottish charity shop
Authors: Northridge Natalie , O'Dowd Patrick , Olia Leda , Redfern Samantha
Published: December 2016

No abstract.
Yoga in Edinburgh: For the Mind or For the Body?
Authors: Burgess Alice Emily
Published: December 2016

No abstract.
There Is No Me without You: Exploring the Self through Others in 5Rhythms
Authors: Eribake Adeola , Rouse Francesca , Trott Violet Metcalf
Published: December 2016

No Abstract
Unfamiliar Edinburgh: Being and Becoming in the City
Authors: McConnachie Stephen , Reece Koreen , Harries John
Published: December 2016

Unfamiliar Edinburgh: Being and Becoming in the City
Estética de cercanía, un lazo entre el fotoperiodismo y la representación de la realidad
Authors: Porciúncula Pablo , Varela Florencia
Published: December 2016

El objetivo de este artículo es analizar los cambios que ha experimentado la práctica fotoperiodística debido a la incorporación de dispositivos y recursos digitales por parte de los medios de comunicación. La principal hipótesis es que se ha producido una estética de cercanía, concepto con que se denomina a la presentación de productos audiovisuales realizados por fotógrafos profesionales que introducen una estética amateur o utilizan medios no profesionales. Este trabajo da cuenta del advenimiento de esta estética de cercanía y sus principales estrategias formales, con el fin de analizar el estatus actual de la fotografía en su relación con la representación de la realidad. El análisis se sustenta sobre algunos abordajes periodísticos, seleccionados en función de su relevancia, y en cuestionarios realizados a los responsables del contenido multimedia de cuatro medios uruguayos.
El fenómeno de la circulación de actores itinerantes: el caso de las producciones Calderón
Authors: Flores Silvana
Published: December 2016

El objetivo de este artículo es estudiar el alcance transnacional generado en México por las producciones cinematográficas de los hermanos José Luis, Pedro y Guillermo Calderón, quienes en las décadas del cuarenta y cincuenta recurrieron con frecuencia al intercambio de artistas extranjeros para las películas que financiaban. Para tal fin, se problematiza la noción de transnacionalidad en el cine, con foco en las experiencias de migración que llevaron a dichos artistas extranjeros a participar en el cine mexicano. En particular, se estudian los casos de la cubana Ninón Sevilla y los españoles  Emilia Guiú y Jorge Mistral. Asimismo, se aborda el fenómeno de la migración desde su inclusión en la trama narrativa, por medio del análisis del sistema de personajes y sus traslados espaciales en películas como Los amores de un torero (José Díaz Morales, 1945) y Aventura en Río (Alberto Gout, 1953). El análisis considera cuestiones vinculadas a la producción de los filmes y la problemática de la distinción entre lo nacional y lo transnacional.
Belleza para luchar contra la “historia única” de la violencia. Entrevista a João Ripper
Authors: Nogueiras María Inés
Published: December 2016

Como fotógrafo documental, el brasileño João Ripper ha recorrido su extenso país y convivido con diversas comunidades, a las que ha retratado con el propósito de orientar la fotografía al servicio de los derechos humanos. A través de su proyecto Imagens Humanas documenta los conflictos que afectan a distintos grupos sociales: acceso a tierras, vivienda, esclavitud y trabajo infantil. En esta entrevista, Ripper reflexiona sobre su labor profesional, sus experiencias y aprendizajes, así como sobre la responsabilidad de ser comunicador de esas realidades. Es una labor que lleva adelante desde el bien querer, con el objetivo de mostrarle al mundo la belleza de aquellos considerados otros.
Role of monitoring within a good corporate governance structure: Evidence from Australia
Authors: Azim Mohammad Istiaq
Published: December 2016

This study investigates the role of monitoring mechanisms within a corporate governance structures, focusing on top 500 publicly-listed companies in Australia. Specifically, it examines whether different monitoring mechanisms affect firm performance. Previous studies have been conducted to examine various monitoring mechanisms and firm performance. However, none of the have consider the interaction among the monitoring mechanisms when examining the relationship. In management and behavioural researches it is well established that Structural Equation Modelling can handle the problem of interaction among the variables. Therefore, we have decided to use Structural equation modelling to identify the complex inter-relations between the corporate governance monitoring mechanisms. We conclude that there is a possibility of having a substitution or complementary links among monitoring mechanisms which explains why there is no consistent empirical evidence between individual monitoring mechanisms and firm performance.
Characteristics of the board of directors and involvement in innovation activities: A cognitive perspective
Authors: Chouaibi Jamel , Boujelbene Younes , Affes Habib
Published: December 2016

This article focuses on the relationship between the characteristics of the board of directors and the innovation policies in the Tunisian context from a cognitive perspective of corporate governance. The method used in this study is based on the regression analysis. We directly regress the board of directors’ characteristics with the firm level of innovation. Our model includes some control variables such as the firm’s size, the firm’s sector of activity and even whether firm is listed or not. We empirically demonstrate that only the inside directors and the duality of the CEO are positively and significantly associated with the firm’s level of innovation. Moreover, the empirical results show that the big size of the board has a negative impact on the development of innovative firms. In the same way, we demonstrate that the compensation system which is based on long-term objectives has no influence on the determination of the innovation policies in Tunisian firms.
What effect does CEO power and governance have over acquisitions?
Authors: Oler Derek , Olson Bradley , Skousen Christopher
Published: December 2016

We examine whether governance and CEO power matter for acquisitions. Acquisitions are frequently beneficial to the CEO of the acquiring firm, but can often be value-destructive to acquirer shareholders and other stakeholders such as employees. We find that corporate governance does not appear to influence whether a firm will become an acquirer after controlling for CEO power, but superior governance is associated with greater relatedness between the target and acquirer. We also find that the effect of CEO power on a firm’s acquisition activity varies according to the source of that power. Our results suggest that the relationships between governance, CEO power, and acquisition activity are complex.
The impact of age on firm performance: A literature review
Authors: Rossi Matteo
Published: December 2016

In the last thirty years the link between firm age and performance has fascinated a lot of scholars. In fact, since 1990 there has been a major attention on management studies on this topic. But the debate on this theme have produced mixed results, which resulted in extensive economics discussion, albeit without a systemic vision. The firm age literature has not yet developed a paradigm. Starting to a simple question: “age benefits performance?”, the purpose of this paper is to present a systematic review of the existing literature. The critical examination of the relation between firm age and performance provides new insights for executives.
A note on credit derivatives and m&a transactions: Announcement and anticipation effects
Authors: Hraschek Margit , Mietzner Mark , Tyrell Marcel
Published: December 2016

This paper analyses CDS and equity markets dynamics of acquiring companies, to explore whether those parties that are involved in M&A transactions are using their access to privileged bank information for private benefits. We find different effects on the CDS and equity markets, primarily because the range of participants on these markets and their regulatory frameworks differ. Our results suggest a stronger anticipation effect and therefore more trading on private information on the CDS market. We posit that this is attributable to its characteristics as an OTC market, and the lack of transparency. Moreover, the results of our multivariate analysis are consistent with the view that certain M&A transactions are especially vulnerable to information leakage in CDS markets.
Risk management practices and company performance: an empirical evidence from cement sector of Pakistan
Authors: Ali Syed Atif , Hussin HJ Mohd Rasid
Published: December 2016

The study investigates the impact of risk management on the company performance. Degree of financial leverage (DFL), degree of operating leverage (DOL) and the working capital ratio (WCR) are taken as independent variables which are the representative of risk and the earning price per share (EPS), return on assets (ROA), return on equity (ROE), Sales and Net profits are taken as the representative of performance. Last 10 years (2004-2013) of Cement sector of Pakistan data is chosen as sample for analyze their relations by multiple regression technique. Results reveal that WCR impact adequately on the company performance because if company has enough liquidity than it perform its operations smoothly and enhance its performance very well. DFL should be control moderately because enough DFL leads performance of company downward. On the other hand, the DOL should be less because it causes the less profitability for the company from its operations.
The evolving role of business in contributing to social justice in South Africa in terms of legislative measures
Authors: Reddy Karunanidhi
Published: December 2016

Apartheid in South Africa has burdened the nation with high levels of poverty, illiteracy and other forms of social and economic inequality. The resultant challenges included discrimination on grounds of race and gender, which prevented much of the population from fair opportunities for business ownership and management, and securing senior jobs, as well as obtaining access to goods and services. Many businesses were closed to Black people and separate and inferior facilities were provided for them. Further, workplace discrimination was supported by the law. This article uses a descriptive approach to reveal, particularly in terms of the legislative measures introduced, the social responsibility of business in a transforming society, more especially the transformation of the historically disadvantaged communities.
Multi-dimensional performance measurement practices in developing countries: A literature review and future research direction
Authors: Khan Habib Zaman
Published: December 2016

This study reviews work on multi-dimensional performance measurement (MPM) and MPM tools such as the balanced scorecard (BSC) in developing countries. 103 papers published by accounting, performance measurement and management journals between 1987 and 2013 are analysed according to their topics, settings, theories and research methods. The principal findings are that firms in developing countries: use MPM but rates vary between countries; BSC was a popular MPM tool; MPM usage was related to varied internal and external factors; the manufacturing sector was the main focus of MPM research; and most studies fail to explicitly articulate their theoretical perspective, identify research gaps or reveal their research motivation. Following this review on MPM usage, MPM in developing countries is presented, and important future research directions identified and presented in the form of research questions.
Factors influencing the going private decision - a Hazard model approach
Authors: Ehn Lucia
Published: December 2016

The aim of this paper is to characterize companies which voluntarily changed their ownership from public to private. The research question addressed in this paper is, if it is possible to characterize going private companies in earlier stages than just shortly before the announcement of their step into privacy. I therefore examine going private companies in a lifecycle context with Cox hazard model and conduct additional logistic regressions at the time of the IPO and shortly before delisting. Further, I not only focus on companies’ fundamentals, but also on perceptibility and corporate governance variables. With data of 1’184 US IPOs from 1990 to 2013, my results show that both, perceptibility and corporate governance variables accelerate the going private decision.
Short-term and long-term effects of IFRS adoption on disclosure quality and earnings management
Authors: Salewski Marcus , Teuteberg Torben , Zülch Henning
Published: December 2016

This study investigates the effect of IFRS adoption on the transparency of financial reporting in Germany. For a sample period from 1995 to 2012, we analyze the development of the degree of earnings management and of disclosure quality using discretionary accruals and disclosure quality scores from an annual report ‘beauty contest’ published by a German business journal as proxies. We find that IFRS adoption is associated with an increase in disclosure quality and with an initial increase in the extent of earnings management. We argue that the latter is driven by factors such as low compliance, lack of experience and weaker enforcement in the early years of IFRS accounting and show that the degree of earnings management decreases from the ‘early’ to the ‘mature’ phase of IFRS accounting. Finally, we provide evidence for a negative association between disclosure quality and earnings management indicating that disclosures potentially constrain earnings management
Culture and profitability: empirical evidence at a European level
Authors: Martins Maria Manuela , Lopes Ilídio Tomás
Published: December 2016

Organizational cultures distinguish different organizations within the same country or countries. When comparing the organizations within the same country differences in national cultures are not relevant but become relevant in comparison between different countries. This paper intends to evidence whether the profitability of companies can be influenced by the national culture. In order to characterize the culture of each country, we used the Hofstede measure of cultural dimensions (1. Power Distance (PDI); 2. Uncertainty Avoidance (UAI); 3. Individualism (IDV); 4. Masculinity (MAS); 5. Long-Term Orientation (LTO); and 6. Indulgence vs Restraint (IND)). Sample was based on the 500 largest European companies rated by the Financial Times 2015. Profitability was measured by the ratios Return on Assets (ROA) and Return on Equity (ROE). Statistical tests were performed to test whether the means of the variables used to measure profitability are statistically equal. The results indicate that companies with higher profitability are from countries with lower Power Distance, lower Uncertainty Avoidance, Long-Term Orientation, and Higher Indulgence
Corporate governance, ownership and sustainability
Authors: Salvioni Daniela M. , Gennari Francesca
Published: December 2016

The main finding of this article is that sustainability and the broader concept of social responsibility imply a change in the spirit of governance, which promotes the so-called ’de facto convergence’ between the different corporate governance systems existing all over the world. Substantial corporate governance convergence suggests that different countries may have different companies’ ownership structure, rules and institutions but the corporate boards may still be able to perform common goals, with attention to similar key performance indicators, such as ensuring fair disclosure or accountability. Companies that perform better with regard to the triple bottom line can increase shareholder value contributing, at the same time, to the sustainable development of the societies in which they operate.
Proxy advisory industry in India
Authors: Subramanian Shanmugasundaram
Published: December 2016

Proxy advisory firms play a significant role in shareholder voting and in the formulation of corporate governance policy. This paper analyses the status of budding proxy advisory industry in India using a case study method. The paper first traces the history of the global proxy advisory industry and also reviews the literature. Then we study the Indian Proxy Advisory Industry, which was born when the market regulator SEBI came out with a regulation in 2010 on “mutual funds” shareholding resolution voting policy. Quickly, three proxy advisory firms came to the market with differing ownership structure. Indian financial market offered great potential for investment through institutional investors. However the institutional investors in India are traditionally restrained them from taking activist role by voting on the shareholder meeting proposals. This poses a challenge to Indian proxy advisory firms along with other challenges typical of an emerging industry. The proxy advisory firms need to overcome the challenges to ensure their success. This pioneering work on Indian proxy advisory industry would open up new research ideas
The effect of the ownership structure characteristics on firm performance in Oman: Empirical study
Authors: Al-Matari Ebrahim Mohammed , Al_arussi Ali Saleh
Published: December 2016

This study attempts to investigate the effect of the ownership structure characteristics (ownership concentration, managerial ownership and government ownership) on firm performance (ROA) among non-financial Omani companies during 2012-2014. For achieving the objective of this study, 81 firms were taken as a sample to test the above relations. The sampling was obtained from annual report of the companies for three years with a total sampling equal to 243 firms. Multiple regression analysis was employed to test the relationship between independent variables and dependent variable. In addition, this study tried to fill the gap in the existing literature concerning the relationship between ownership structure and firm performance in the developing countries such as Oman. This study found a positive and significant association between ownership concentration and government ownership to firm performance (ROA). The study provides some suggestions for future researchers before the conclusion.
Corporate governance mechanisms, sensitive factors and earnings management in Nigerian oil and gas industry
Authors: Miko Nuraddeen Usman , Kamardin Hasnah
Published: December 2016

Oil and gas industry is considered as the sector that contributes a big share to the Nigeria economy. This study investigated the effects of corporate governance mechanisms, sensitive factors on earnings management of quoted oil and gas firms in Nigeria using the sample of nine (9) listed oil and gas firms for the period of ten years (2004-2013). Discretionary current accruals was used as the proxy for earnings management. Corporate governance mechanisms (boards size, chief executive officer (CEO) duality, directors’ ownership, audit committee size, audit committee independence), sensitive factors (corporate tax, corporate profit, corporate social responsibility) served as independent variables. The study concludes that corporate governance mechanisms curves earnings management while sensitive factors increase earnings management. The study recommends that corporate governance regulations should be strengthened to reflect present challenges.
The impact of IAS 36 on equity values: Empirical evidence from UAE
Authors: Shahwan Yousef , Roudaki Jamal
Published: December 2016

Amortization requirement of goodwill asset is one of the most controversial issues in financial reporting. This study provides empirical evidence on whether goodwill amortization has significant impact on equity value. It analyses the information content of goodwill amortization in the determination of firm’s market valuation by Emirates Financial Market Listed companies that clearly reported goodwill amortization over the period 2003 to 2012 inclusive. Evidence suggests that there is a statistically significant association between equity market values and goodwill amortization in the determination of firms’ market valuation, concluding that the UAE market perceives goodwill amortization as having information content when valuing firms and the use of standardized amortization requirement may be appropriate.
The role of voluntary disclosure in listed company: An alternative model
Authors: Bianchi Maria Teresa , Nardecchia Alessia
Published: December 2016

The aim of this paper is to propose a model of social reporting that allows improving the communication of sociability and quantify the sociability. The research approach follows a qualitative methodology, applying a single method approach. The observations are the result of an empirical analysis carried out on the Italian-Stock-Exchange listed companies that have an independent social or sustainability balance sheet. The findings of this research are based, first, on collection of data about the sample, in order to identify the strong and weak points in terms of its management and economic evaluation, and secondly on the introduction of an alternative method of social accounting, with the objective of measuring the sociability of company communication
Identification of information needs in intellectual capital: exploratory study on the Tunisian financial market
Authors: Ferchichi Jihene , Paturel Robert
Published: December 2016

In an economy concretized by the broadening notion of the intellectual capital and its increasing role in investment decisions, it seems appropriate to conceive the intellectual capital by measuring its perception by 22 Tunisian financial professionals. Therefore, the aim of this work consists firstly to enable a better understanding of the intellectual capital of the Tunisian financial market. Secondly, by adopting the Delphi method, we determined the information needs and expectations consensus in terms of intellectual capital. The results of this research show that the concept of intellectual capital appears well known by the financial actors Tunisians. Besides this research, revealed new aspects of intellectual capital .The Tunisian investors consider these dimensions as important criteria that support making their investment decision.
Stakeholder engagement and the GRI: implications for effective risk management
Authors: Horner Claire A. , Wilmshurst Trevor D.
Published: December 2016

Stakeholders expect organisations to assess and manage risk in all areas of business activity including their social and environmental activities, and corporate reporting on these activities is increasing. Acknowledging that a gap may exist between voluntary reports and internal social and environmental risk management practices, this study explores the association between the use of the GRI guidelines, stakeholder engagement practices, and risk management practices with reference to AS/NZS Risk Management Standard ISO 31000:2009. It moves beyond motivations to explore how voluntary reporting practices may facilitate risk management through the process of stakeholder engagement. Results indicate that the use of the GRI in conjunction with external verification encourages more inclusive stakeholder engagement practices as identified in the AS/NZS Risk Management Standard
Financial innovation in retail banking in South Africa
Authors: Smit Ben , Mostert Frederik J. , Mostert Jan Hendrik
Published: December 2016

Innovation in general refers to an action to do something differently. Financial innovation, which embodies the topic of this research, has therefore the creation of financial products, services and/or systems in mind in order to satisfy the needs of customers and clients and ultimately to improve the financial performance of the enterprises concerned. As the requirements of customers and clients change continuously, financial innovations are important for the survival of enterprises. Capital investments to accommodate financial innovations should be considered very carefully as they will determine the business activities of an enterprise for many years. The objective of this research focuses on the improvement of financial decision-making by executive managers in retail banking when they are engaging in financial innovations. A literature study represented the start of this research to provide a proper basis for compiling the empirical study’s questionnaire. The empirical study consisted of an opinion survey where the three pillars of financial innovation were addressed, viz.: products and services innovation, organisational innovation and distribution channel innovation. The empirical study indicated amongst others the importance of these three pillars of financial innovations as perceived by eight of the largest banks in South Africa. Furthermore, the obstacles to financial innovations also received the necessary attention. The empirical results of this research should be valuable to countries which are classified as developing economies with emerging market economies, as South Africa is a member of this group.
Board governance, ownership structure and financing decisions in emerging market.
Authors: Safiullah Md
Published: December 2016

This paper aims to contribute to the corporate governance literature by examining the effects of board governance and ownership structure on financing decisions in an emerging country context. Using hand collected corporate governance data from a panel sample of 110 publically-listed firms in Bangladesh over 2009-2012, this study finds that the corporate debt ratio is not related to standard board of directors mechanisms.The results indicate that board of directors play little role in resolving conflicts in an environment with the presence of strong principal-principal agency conflict. The study also finds no evidence of institutional investors’ activism in a manner that is consistent with the goals of other outside stockholders due to the weak regulatory and market discipline. This empirical evidence from the principal-principal agency conflicts (conflict of interest between majority shareholders and minority shareholders) offers insights to policy makers in emerging countries interested to protect minority shareholders’ rights and to ensure effective corporate governance of capital structure decisions.
Do audit committee characteristics of Bahraini listed companies have an effect on the level of internet financial reporting?
Authors: Saleh AlMatrooshi Sara AbdulHakeem , Musleh Al-Sartawi Abdalmuttaleb M. A. , Sanad Zakeya
Published: December 2016

Corporate Governance and IFR are influential topics that need to be addressed nowadays due to its importance. Especially since companies are growing and extending globally. This research is conducted in Kingdom of Bahrain through the year 2014, where it investigates the relationship between Audit Committee characteristics as a tool of CG and IFR. Literature review has been conducted, not to mention Multi-regression test was used to evaluate the relationship between Audit Committee characteristics and IFR for Bahraini listed companies. The results have showed that the relationship between Audit Committee characteristics and IFR is negative, which indicates that the Audit committee characteristics have no influence over the disclosure of financial information over the internet. However, Frequency of meeting of the board and Big4 resulted in a positive relationship with internet financial reporting. The study ends with a main conclusion and recommendation that contain certain steps and advices of disclosing financial information in an appropriate way through the internet in order to improve the relationship between Audit committee characteristics and IFR.
Assessing the effectiveness of internal governance controls: The case of internal auditors skills and challenges in Libya
Authors: Elmghaamez Ibrahim Khalifa , Ntim Collins G.
Published: December 2016

The main aim of this research is to assess the effectiveness of internal governance controls and processes with specific focus on the skills and challenges facing internal auditors operating in Libya when they conduct internal audits. This study also investigates whether Libyan internal auditors have sufficient skills needed to implement their internal audit function effectively.
Design/methodology/approach: Forty one internal auditors working in six banks and three insurance companies listed on the Libyan Stock Market were surveyed. Wilcoxon signed test and Z-test were used to test the research hypotheses.
Findings: The findings of this study illustrate that internal auditors operating in companies listed on the Libyan Stock Market have limited professional, interpersonal and technical skills. Specifically, the findings show that internal auditors in Libya have limited skills including public speaking and presentation skills. Additionally, they have limited skills of IT audit and international financial report preparation skills.
Originality/value: There is a dearth of empirical evidence on the extent of audit, interpersonal, professional and technical skills relating to internal auditors generally, but particularly acute in Arab and developing countries. This study, therefore, contributes to the literature by offering new insights with particular focus on Libya.
Risk management with management control systems: a pragmatic constructivist perspective
Authors: Lueg Rainer , Knapik Magdalena
Published: December 2016

This paper addresses the issue that calculative practices build on socially constructed facts that have both subjective and objective components. Using risk management as an example, we take a pragmatic-constructivist stance to explore how such a tool might be integrated in actor-based Management Control Systems. We propose a conceptual framework and a research agenda that accounts for actorship (L. Nørreklit, 2013) beyond numerical facts. This paper is conceptual and draws on secondary literature. Our framework highlights the non-linear, iterative nature of integrating calculative practices that specifically require complex reflection concerning the [1] validation if possibilities are factual (combining subjective and numerical data), [2] the elimination of illusions and sur-realities through constructive conflict/dialectical management, and [3] the co-construction of organization-wide topoi (causality and pertinent accounting practices). Our research furthers practice research on calculative practices through the development of a prescriptive rather than descriptive framework. It also offers propositions that future case study researchers can use.
Reputation of low-quality big 4 and non-big 4 auditors: evidence from auditor switches of former Chuoaoyama clients
Authors: Murase Hikaru , Numata Shingo , Takeda Fumiko
Published: December 2016

We examine how an auditor’s reputation for audit quality affects the selection of new auditors in a unique setting. Specifically, we investigate forced auditor switches after the collapse of ChuoAoyama and its successor, Misuzu, in a low litigation country, Japan, where the insurance value of auditing is minimal. We find that former ChuoAoyama clients with greater reputation concerns tended to switch away from Misuzu, a low-quality Big 4 audit firm. Our results also indicate that auditors’ sensitivity to reputation decreased after the collapse of Misuzu, perhaps because of intensified capacity constraints and decreased differences in perceived audit quality between Big 4 and Non-Big 4 auditors after the audit scandal and the introduction of the J-SOX.
Financing agribusiness by state development banks - the case of Macedonia
Authors: Kovachev Goran
Published: December 2016

In countries where agriculture has substantial role in generating domestic product, sustainable agro-finance can seriously increase economic development. It is well known that agriculture is perceived as risky to be financed by commercial banks. Therefore, creating specific agro-credit lines within state development banks is key element in enhancing agricultural activities. These state development banks, operating in close collaboration with the Government have a significant role in accelerating economic welfare of farmers and rural poor. This study tends to emphasize the importance of creating special lending products targeted towards agriculture. The focus will be put on comparison between the first pillar – direct lending to agriculture and second pillar – lending to agriculture through commercial banks showing the better viability of the later.
Telecommunications in South Africa: Governance of who is actually regulating?
Authors: Pau L-F
Published: December 2016

Although the Republic of South Africa telecommunications market is a maturing one with a large customer base to serve, it has been repeatedly been observed over the past few years that many good intentions were formulated in the regulatory sphere with sometimes poor outcomes and unclear governance. A number of surprising observations have been made on the outcomes, the delays or other process related events linked to regulatory measures. The paper thus researches first, from a governance point of view, who is actually regulating the telecommunications industry; it identifies next opportunities and bottlenecks whereby a change might happen to reach the expected outcomes. A political economy methodology is taken, backed up by extensive field work over 2010 and 2011, leading to a web of conjectures providing answers to the first question, based on an extensive analysis of key stakeholders goals, positions and interactions. Finally, a number of measures are proposed to improve the governance, regulatory impact and efficiency, and evolve the South African telecommunications eco-system.
The VAT in the bank system
Authors: Biernacki Krzysztof
Published: December 2016

The bank system in the European Union plays an important role as a significant sector of the economy. Implementing in the last century -VAT exemption also for services performed by banks generates extra tax inflows, but decreases international competitiveness of this sector. However, VAT is a perfect consumption tax, alternatives were created for banks’ services taxation. As the paper shows, many of them are used in other then EU countries and provide smaller distortions in taxation. The aim of this article is to shortly present the dominant model of VAT taxation in the EU with a particular reference to banks’ services and describe an alternative method of taxating them. The analysis will also refer to introducing a new Financial Transaction Tax since 2014.
Foreign bank entry impacted domestic-owned banks in Ghana from 1975 to 2008
Authors: Acheampong Nsiah
Published: December 2016

This article empirically examines the effects of foreign bank entry on the financial performance of Merchant Bank Ghana Limited and Ghana Commercial Banks Limited in Ghana from 1975 to 2008. The main result of the pooled regression was that foreign bank entry relatively increased domestic banks’ return on assets for the period 1992-2008; a period with a high influx of foreign banks into Ghana. This result supported the studies by Beck, Demirguc-Kunt, and Levine (2006) and Boldrin and Levine (2009) that found that foreign bank entry enhanced domestic banks profitability margins. The presence of foreign-owned banks was not detrimental to the financial performance of the domestic-owned banks in Ghana.
Portfolio volatility of Islamic and conventional stock: The case of Indonesia stock market
Authors: Herwany Aldrin , Febrian Erie
Published: December 2016

Conventional finance suggests that the higher the risk of an investment, the higher the return it should give. Nevertheless, whether Islamic stocks that offer alternative investment in the stock market suggest different risk-return relationship still needs to be investigated. This empirical study is aimed at assessing risk-return behavior of Islamic stocks. This study employs cross sectional data of portfolio developed using beta-rank and market capitalization, in which daily data will better reflect the real volatility. This study also measures volatility of both conventional and Islamic stocks using Value-at-Risk (VaR). To check whether Islamic stocks are immune from any impact of financial crisis, this study utilizes three periods of observation, i.e., before, during and after the 2008 crisis. This study assesses risk and return using Multi-index model, in which variables tested are the respective fundamental factors. Results of this study will provide more accurate approach in Islamic stocks analysis.
Competitive intelligence as an enabler for firm competitiveness: An overview
Authors: Maune Alexander
Published: December 2016

The purpose of this article is to provide an overview, from literature, about how competitive intelligence can be an enabler towards a firm’s competitiveness. This overview is done under the background of intense global competition that firms are currently experiencing. This paper used a qualitative content analysis as a data collection methodology on all identified journal articles on competitive intelligence and firm competitiveness. To identify relevant literature, academic databases and search engines were used. Moreover, a review of references in related studies led to more relevant sources, the references of which were further reviewed and analysed. To ensure reliability and trustworthiness, peer-reviewed journal articles and triangulation were used. The paper found that competitive intelligence is an important enabler of firm competitiveness. The findings from this paper will assist business managers to understand and improve their outlook of competitive intelligence as an enabler of firm competitiveness and will be of great academic value.
Evaluation of the first outcomes of decentralization reform with “kallikratis plan” in greece: The case of Ilida’s municipality
Authors: Sofianou Eleni , Goulas Dimitrios , Kontogeorga Georgia , Droulia Kassiani
Published: December 2016

Many countries, not only in the European Union but also throughout the world, are adopting decentralization reforms in order to empower local communities. Decentralization is the process of transferring authority, responsibility and accountability from central to local governments. To accomplish this, Greek government applied the Law 3852/10 «Kallikratis plan», reforming the local self administration and its duties. The purpose of this paper is to present the results of the conceptual framework analysis of the relation between decentralization and democratic local governance in Greece, to explore opportunities and propose ways to establish or further strengthen democracy at the local level.
Sovereign wealth funds: Investment objectives and asset allocation strategies
Authors: Wagner Daniil
Published: December 2016

Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs) have steadily increased their importance in the global financial system in the last decade and especially during the financial crisis period. Although the objectives and investment strategies of SWFs are quite diverse, I propose to sort them into three main groups, depending on their sponsor countries’ endowment with resources and investment objectives. I present case studies and empirical analyses that reflect SWF investment activities and try to elaborate on the special role of each SWF group. Special emphasis is given to the recent financial crisis, where SWFs also acted as bailout investors by injecting substantial capital into global financial institutions, filling a financing gap that other institutional investors could not close.
Increased auditor independence by external rotation and separating audit and non audit duties? - A note on the European audit regulation
Authors: Velte Patrick , Eulerich Marc
Published: December 2016

The European audit reform contains the implementation of an external mandatory auditor rotation (audit firm rotation) and a separation of audit and non audit duties to increase auditor independence. The central question is, whether these regulation measures are connected with an increased accounting and audit quality. First, this article presents an agency theoretical foundation of auditor independence. Then, a state of the art analysis of empirical research illustrates these ambivalent results, so that the economic need for the audit market regulation in Europe is controversial.
Analysis of bank failures during financial tumult in Africa-Zimbabwe: A historical review
Authors: Dzomira Shewangu
Published: December 2016

The paper describes the analysis of the bank failures phenomenon in Africa with a deep analysis of Zimbabwe scenario. The paper is based on historical research design which used analytical and comparative research approaches to study the bank failures phenomenon. To obtain the historical evidence the researcher consulted primary sources, secondary sources and running records. It was discovered and concluded that the failing of banks was attributed to liquidity and solvency problems as a result of flawed corporate governance standards, inadequate risk management, high levels of non-performing loans and speculative activities among a confluence of factors. It was therefore recommended that enterprise-wide risk management framework should be implemented without failing and adoption of Basel II/III on banking supervision and surveillance.