Emerald logo
Advanced search

The impact of Islamic accounting standards on information asymmetry: The case of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member countries

Abiot Mindaye Tessema (Department of Accounting, Zayed University College of Business, Abu Dhabi, UAE)
Samy Garas (Zayed University College of Business, Dubai, UAE)
Kienpin Tee (Zayed University College of Business, Abu Dhabi, UAE)

International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance and Management

ISSN: 1753-8394

Publication date: 19 June 2017

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether disclosure as required by Islamic Financial Service Board Standard No. 4 (IFSB-4) influences information asymmetry among investors in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member countries. In addition, the paper investigates whether the influence of IFSB-4 on information asymmetry varies between Islamic and conventional financial institutions.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper tests the hypotheses using a sample of firms listed in the GCC over a period of 2000-2013. Ordinary least square regression and fixed-effects estimation techniques are applied to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The findings reveal that information asymmetry among investors is lower after the implementation of IFSB-4 than before, indicating that the standard has increased transparency. The results also reveal that information asymmetry after the implementation of IFSB-4 is lower for Islamic than for conventional financial institutions. This suggests that IFAB-4 promotes more transparency for Islamic than conventional institutions.

Research limitations/implications

Owing to data availability, we were unable to use other proxies of information asymmetry, e.g. bid-ask spreads, and the level of disclosure, e.g. self-constructed disclosure index.

Practical implications

The paper concludes that disclosures under IFAB-4 reduce information asymmetry among investors. In this context, this study increases the awareness of standard setters academics investors regulators and many other stakeholders about the economic consequences of disclosure standards in the region.

Originality/value

This study takes a first step to fill evident gaps in the literature by investigating the influences of disclosure standard on information asymmetry in a unique setting that is often ignored by accounting researchers, which helps to widen our knowledge on accounting practices across the globe.

Keywords

  • Islamic financial institutions
  • Disclosure
  • Information asymmetry
  • Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
  • IFAB-4
  • Islamic accounting standards

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the editor-in-chief of the Journal and the two anonymous referees for their helpful comments.

Citation

Tessema, A., Garas, S. and Tee, K. (2017), "The impact of Islamic accounting standards on information asymmetry: The case of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member countries", International Journal of Islamic and Middle Eastern Finance and Management, Vol. 10 No. 2, pp. 170-185. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMEFM-09-2016-0129

Download as .RIS

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited

Please note you might not have access to this content

You may be able to access this content by login via Shibboleth, Open Athens or with your Emerald account.
Login
To rent this content from Deepdyve, please click the button.
Rent from Deepdyve
If you would like to contact us about accessing this content, click the button and fill out the form.
Contact us
Emerald Publishing
  • Opens in new window
  • Opens in new window
  • Opens in new window
  • Opens in new window
© 2019 Emerald Publishing Limited

Services

  • Authors Opens in new window
  • Editors Opens in new window
  • Librarians Opens in new window
  • Researchers Opens in new window
  • Reviewers Opens in new window

About

  • About Emerald Opens in new window
  • Working for Emerald Opens in new window
  • Contact us Opens in new window
  • Publication Sitemap

Policies and information

  • Legal Opens in new window
  • Editorial policy Opens in new window & originality guidelines Opens in new window
  • Site policies
  • Modern Slavery Act Opens in new window

We’re listening — tell us what you think

  • Something didn’t work…

    Report bugs here

  • All feedback is valuable

    Please share your general feedback

  • Member of Emerald’s Library Advisory Network?

    You can start or join in a discussion here.
    If you’d like to know more about The Network, please email us

Join us on our journey

  • Platform update page

    Visit emeraldpublishing.com/platformupdate to discover the latest news and updates

  • Frequently Asked Questions

    Your questions answered here