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This paper aims to examine the relationship between key economic fundamentals and average house price (AHP) movements before and during the financial crisis of 2007 to 2009 in the UK and the USA.

Multiple regression analysis is applied in assessing the correlation between AHPs and a set of selected economic fundamentals.

The study results show that earnings and to less extent interest rate have the highest correlation with the AHP and among the different types of interest rate used variable interest rate has the strongest correlation with AHP. The results also reveal that most indicators behave in the same way both before and during the financial crisis, but with better explanatory power for the pre-crisis period. Another key finding is that the directions of relationship for some of the parameters have changed when the market is in crisis, especially in the case of loans extended to house purchase for the UK market and number of households for the US market.

The originality of the paper stems in using a wide range and thoroughly selected economic fundamentals to explain the movement in house prices and to observe the effect of financial crisis on the correlation between each economic factor and house price movements. The study is also unique in comparing the UK and the US housing markets for the time frame under consideration and for the economic parameters used.

This paper aims to investigate the disparity and compliance of information disclosures in Islamic banks (IBs). Specifically, the research examines IBs’ compliance with Sharia disclosure requirements.

To determine the extent of disclosures and compliance with Islamic business principles, content analysis is applied to the annual reports of a sample of IBs from 11 countries. A comprehensive reporting framework has also been developed to assess the transparency and compliance of IBs with Islamic business principles. Institutional theory and core Islamic principles are used to inform the study and its findings.

The results reveal that IBs demonstrate limited transparency on the key Sharia compliance issues, and there is a wide variation in the level of reporting across the countries studied. Moreover, the authors find that IBs located in the single integrated regulatory framework (RF) countries disclose more information, followed by those located in dual RF countries and then those located in Islamic RF countries.

This study presents a unique and comprehensive framework to assess the areas of Sharia disclosure by IBs and provides a conceptual rationing for the actual level of IBs’ Sharia reporting. This study also fills a significant gap in the literature, as most studies in this field are based on a single-country study. The results are deemed of direct relevance to IBs’ managers, investors, policymakers, regulators and the wider public, particularly in the Muslim world.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the use of income generation projects as a pedagogic method to assess students’ learning about social enterprises. The authors are interested in how and why this innovative approach might improve students’ understanding of the different aspects and attributes of social entrepreneurship.

The study used thematic analysis of qualitative data comprising the reflective logs of 87 students on an undergraduate entrepreneurship module in a university business programme. The major attributes of social entrepreneurship were identified from a review of literature, and the paper uses the logs to judge whether students had learnt about these attributes.

The results show that students developed an understanding concerning social enterprises’ diverse stakeholder environment, market needs, social enterprises’ ideological foundations, resource mobilisation processes and performance measurement – both social and financial. In addition, they developed skills in reflection and self-awareness, communication, empathy and the generation of new ideas.

The study is limited in that it focused on only one cohort of students, undergraduates. The authors cannot claim that the findings are generalisable to other students or contexts.

Students are better able to understand the needs and values of social enterprises. However, this is a resource intensive process for educators with implications for curriculum design and management.

This study sheds new light on how experiential learning helps to raise students’ awareness of social enterprises.

This study sheds new light on how experiential learning in the form of income generation projects helps to raise students’ awareness of social enterprises. Its value lies in helping to develop a novel and effective pedagogy for entrepreneurial learning.

The purpose of this paper is to provide a detailed analysis of the Islamic banking in Algeria following the financial liberalisation initiated in the 1990 s. It seeks to examine the performance of the sole bank offering Islamic financial products in Algeria, Banque Al Baraka d'Algérie. The study also aims to analyse the methods adopted by the bank to improve the allocation of its financial resources and to boost its earnings.

Interviews were conducted to learn about the performance and risks associated with Banque Al Baraka d'Algérie operations. All interviews were held one‐to‐one with each respondent in Algeria. Statistical data and financial ratio analyses are also used to support the arguments made in this study. Analyses are carried out on major factors affecting the bank operations.

The study reveals four key findings: Banque Al Baraka d'Algérie offers only a few Islamic financial products to its customers; most of the instruments are geared towards short‐term financing; the bank's overall performance has improved since its operations in Algeria; and credit risk remains the main obstacle facing the bank.

This research uses a single country case study. The study also refers to the case of one Islamic bank with no competition from other Islamic finance providers.

The analyses presented in this research can be used by policymakers and managers as a guide to developing the existing Islamic banking practices in Algeria.

The study makes a contribution to the literature on Islamic banking in Algeria. It is the first study to particularly investigate the issue of Islamic banking performance in Algeria. The findings achieved in this research will be of interest for practitioners and academics concerned with developments of the Algerian banking industry.

This study aims to explore and analyse the credit risk assessment procedure conducted by the Indonesian Islamic banks to address the issue of asymmetric information among their micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) clients. This study also investigates the gaps in credit risk assessment procedures by comparing Islamic banks’ practices and presenting several recommendations to reinforce the credit risk evaluation procedures and eventually promote more inclusion of the MSME segment into the Islamic financial services.

This paper adopts a qualitative method by implementing a multi-case study research strategy. The data were gathered primarily through an interview approach by incorporating purposive uncontrolled quota sampling.

The result of this study implies that the Islamic banks in Indonesia have their own unique approaches and strategies in assessing the credit risk and have several similarities in performing their evaluation procedures for the MSME. Despite seemingly adequate approaches and measures taken by the Islamic banks to eliminate the asymmetric information problem, the study identifies several gaps that occur within the Islamic banks’ methods of credit risk assessment.

Since this study focuses on Indonesia and emphasises the two segments of Islamic banks, which consist of Islamic commercial and rural banks, in performing the MSME credit risk assessment; therefore, the findings of this study were limited around the observed Islamic banks within the MSME segment purview.

By referring to the recommendations as proposed by this paper, four implications could be expected from adopting these respective recommendations, among others: more effective evaluation procedures for the MSME, provision of a clear path and more efficient approach to assess the MSME units, lower financing cost and increase the confidence of Islamic banking industry in disbursing more financing to the MSME sector. This mechanism will potentially improve Islamic financial inclusion for the MSME due to the greater access to financial services; hence, the sector could contribute even more to Indonesia’s growing economy.

By incorporating a multi-case study among Indonesian Islamic banks pertaining to their methods in evaluating MSME customers, this study identifies several gaps affecting the effectiveness of MSME credit risk assessment. Furthermore, this study also presents a proposed framework to address these gaps accordingly by suggesting the salient strategies to minimise the issues of information asymmetry and enhance the MSME credit risk assessment procedure.