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1 – 10 of 10Eric Owusu Boahen and Emmanuel Constantine Mamatzakis
There are variations in religious social norms and legal environments around the world. In this paper, we aim to examine the interaction between variations in religious social…
Abstract
Purpose
There are variations in religious social norms and legal environments around the world. In this paper, we aim to examine the interaction between variations in religious social norms and legal environments on real activities manipulations and expense misclassification using a global sample of 63 countries. Our inquiry is motivated by a paucity of research on the interaction between legal environment and religion on earnings management practices in an international setting.
Design/methodology/approach
This study draws on a global sample of 63 countries to examine the effect of variations in religious social norms and legal environments on the trade-off between expense misclassification and real activities earnings management practices. Firm-specific financial data come from Global Compustat. Religion data are obtained from World Values Surveys of the World Bank. We obtain legal environment scores from the International Country Risk Guide.
Findings
Findings suggest that the interaction between law and religion serves as constraints on both classification shifting and real activities manipulation around the world. We find that religion strengthens the weak legal environment and the strong legal environment strengthens the weak religious environment to decrease both real activities manipulation and classification shifting when law and religion interact in an international setting. Therefore, our results contradict Zang's (2012) earnings management trade-off evidence. Again, our results contradict Malikov et al.’s (2018) evidence that mandatory International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) adoption is associated with increased real activities manipulation.
Research limitations/implications
The study is limited to 63 countries limiting the generalizability of the findings.
Originality/value
This study provides novel evidence and shows that there is a link between law and religion. The interaction between law and religion decreases expense misclassification and real activities manipulation. We contribute that the interaction between religion and law benefits firms and increases shareholder value as real activities manipulation decreases. Therefore, strengthening the legal environment will complement religion, IFRS and other monitoring mechanisms put in place to mitigate unethical expense misclassification and real activities earnings manipulation around the world.
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Emmanuel C. Mamatzakis, Lorenzo Neri and Antonella Russo
This study aims to examine the impact of national culture on classification shifting in Eastern European Member States of EU Eastern European countries (EEU) vis-à-vis the Western…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the impact of national culture on classification shifting in Eastern European Member States of EU Eastern European countries (EEU) vis-à-vis the Western Member States of EU (WEU). The EEU provides a unique sample to study the quality of financial reporting that the authors measure with classification shifting given that for more than five decades they were following the model of a centrally planned economy, where market-based financial reporting was absent. Yet, the EEU transitioned to a market-based economy and completed its accession to the EU.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses a panel data set of firm year observations from 1996 and 2020 that covers the full transition of EEU. This empirical analysis is based on fixed effects panel regression analysis where the authors report a plethora of identifications.
Findings
This study finds classification shifting in the EEU countries since their transition to the market-based economy, though they have no long record of market-based financial reporting. This study also notices that cultural factors are associated with classification shifting across all Member States of the EU. This study further examines the impact of interactions between cultural characteristics and special items and reveal variability between WEU and EEU. As part of the robustness analysis, this study also tests the impact of culture on real earnings management measures for both WEU vs EEU, confirming the variability of the impact of culture on earnings management.
Research limitations/implications
Future research could explore the role of religion differences in WEU vis-à-vis EEU states, as they are also subject to cultural differences.
Practical implications
The findings are important for regulators, external monitors and investors, as they show that cultural factors affect earnings management with some variability across countries in the EU, and they should be acknowledged in policymaking.
Social implications
The findings show that cultural differences between EEU and the “old” Member States of the EU could explain classification shifting.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that sheds light on the impact of national culture on classification shifting in EEU of EU vis-à-vis the “old” WEU of EU.
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Emmanuel Mamatzakis, Christos Alexakis, Khamis Al Yahyaee, Vasileios Pappas, Asma Mobarek and Sabur Mollah
This paper aims to investigate the impact of corporate governance practices on cost efficiency and financial stability for a sample of Islamic and conventional banks. In the…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the impact of corporate governance practices on cost efficiency and financial stability for a sample of Islamic and conventional banks. In the analysis, the author uses a set of corporate governance variables that include, the board size, board independence, director gender, board meetings, board attendance, board committees, chair independence and CEO characteristics.
Design/methodology/approach
The author uses corporate governance data of Islamic banks that is unique in this field. In the analysis, the author also uses stochastic frontier analysis and panel vector autoregression models to quantify long-run and short-run statistical relationships between the operational efficiency of Islamic Banks and corporate governance practices.
Findings
According to the results, Islamic and conventional banks exhibit important differences in the effects of corporate governance practices on cost efficiency and financial stability. Results show that with a blind general adoption of corporate governance practices, Islamic banks may suffer a loss in their value since the adoption of the third layer of binding practices, over and above the already existing ones, imposed by the Sharia Board and the Board of Directors, may lead to cumbersome business operations. This conclusion is of importance to Islamic Banks since they struggle to survive in a very competitive international environment.
Practical implications
The author believes that the results may be of a certain value to regulators, policymakers and managers of Islamic banks. Based on the results, the author postulate that Islamic banks should select carefully international corporate governance practices.
Social implications
Islamic banks should not adopt additional third layer of binding practices as that would result lower performance and instability that would be damaging for the economy
Originality/value
This study employs a unique sample of Islamic banks that includes corporate governance data hand collected. Our findings of the corporate governance impact on Islamic banks performance and stability are therefore unique in the literature.
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Emmanuel Mamatzakis, Panagiotis Pegkas and Christos Staikouras
The purpose of this study is to empirically investigate the Greek firms' earnings management policies compared with debt, taxation and the financial crisis.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to empirically investigate the Greek firms' earnings management policies compared with debt, taxation and the financial crisis.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, the authors show that existed measures of real earnings management, whether corrected for performance or not, rely crucially on strong assumptions. The authors provide a novel modelling that permits panel structure so as to correct for heterogeneity across firms while permitting to determine endogenously the number of underlying firm-groups in the data generating process.
Findings
The empirical results indicate that Greek firms are likely to reduce earnings manipulation activities when they face liquidity risk. Taxation and financial crisis have a negative and positive effect on earnings management, respectively.
Originality/value
The effect of debt, taxation and financial crisis on earnings management has never been investigated in Greece. The empirical results offer valuable information to shareholders and investors as they can understand how some main factors, such as debt, taxation and financial crisis, influence firm's accounting practices.
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This study investigates the reasons behind the very high net interest margins in the Greek banking industry compared to the euro-area, focussing on the association between bank…
Abstract
Purpose
This study investigates the reasons behind the very high net interest margins in the Greek banking industry compared to the euro-area, focussing on the association between bank competition and recapitalisations.
Design/methodology/approach
The author conducts a dynamic panel analysis covering the period from the early 2000s to 2021, that controls for possible endogeneity and treats for heterogeneity. The author also employs local projections impulse response functions that control for structural changes in Greek banking.
Findings
The author finds that low bank competition has contributed to high net interest margins in Greece. Interestingly, the impact of recapitalisations conditional to low bank competition has had a significant further impact on increasing net interest margins, which is a noteworthy case due to several Greek bank recapitalisations in the last ten years. The author’s findings are supported by local projections impulse response functions.
Originality/value
To mitigate distortions in bank competition, the author argues to accelerate steps toward the direction of the banking union and a common bank regulation framework in the euro-area.
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Emmanuel Mamatzakis, Mike G. Tsionas and Steven Ongena
In this paper, the authors investigate whether coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) impacts household finances, like household debt repayments in the UK.
Abstract
Purpose
In this paper, the authors investigate whether coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) impacts household finances, like household debt repayments in the UK.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper employs a vector autoregressive (VAR) model that nests neural networks and uses Mixed Data Sampling (MIDAS) techniques. The authors use data information related to COVID-19, financial markets and household finances.
Findings
The authors' results show that household debt repayments' response to the first principal component of COVID-19 shocks is negative, albeit of low magnitude. However, when the authors employ specific COVID-19-related data like vaccines and tests the responses are positive, insinuating the underlying dynamic complexities. Overall, confirmed deaths and hospitalisations negatively affect household debt repayments. The authors also report low persistence in household debt repayments. Generalised impulse response functions (IRFs) confirm the main results. As draconian measures, the lockdowns are eased and the COVID-19 shocks are diminishing, and household financial data converge to the levels prior to the pandemic albeit with some lags.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study that examines the impact of the pandemic on household debt repayments. The authors' findings show that policy response in the future should prioritise innovation of new vaccines and testing.
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Emmanuel Mamatzakis and Christos Staikouras
Common Agriculture Police in the EU, direct payments, solvency and income
Abstract
Purpose
Common Agriculture Police in the EU, direct payments, solvency and income
Design/methodology/approach
We employ agriculture data for all twenty-eight EU Member States. The data comes from the public Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) of the EU. In terms of methodology we employ panel regression and panel Vector Autoregression analysis (panel VAR) to take into account possible endogeneity issues.
Findings
The reported panel regressions, impulse response functions (IRFs) and variance decompositions (VDCs) show that agriculture income has been subdued due to negative shocks in direct payments and solvency. Our results do not support the hypothesis that higher direct payments would increase agriculture income. In addition, whilst solvency subdues agriculture income, investment asserts a positive impact on agriculture income.
Research limitations/implications
Further research on the impact of direct payments of CAP on EU agriculture is warranted at a disaggregate level so as to examine whether there is variability in the underlying interlinkages at regional level
Practical implications
As a policy implication, and in light of the ongoing reform of the EU's CAP, we would propose to raise net value added in agriculture using targeted income support to small and medium-sized farms. The European Economic Recovery Plan (EERP) would be also supportive. In addition, further enhancing financial integration across the EU would provide funds for investment in agriculture.
Social implications
As social implication, one would propose to raise investment in agriculture, that is through the European Economic Recovery Plan (EERP). The EERP is designed as a stimulus package set up to mitigate the consequences of the global financial crisis in the EU. Also, a way to boost agriculture income is through the credit channel of the on-going quantitative easing of the ECB, where unconventional monetary policy is aiming to support the growth prospect of the Euro area.
Originality/value
This study examines the impact of direct payments, which include all subsidies, of the EU's Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) on agriculture income as measured by the net value added. We also control for solvency. Despite the magnitude of CAP on the EU budget, few studies investigate the impact of direct payments on income in the aftermath of the financial crisis. This is surprising given the importance of agriculture for the economic recovery of the EU that remains anaemic more than a decade after the crisis.
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Emmanuel C. Mamatzakis, Lorenzo Neri and Antonella Russo
Since February 2022, the conflict between Ukraine and Russia has significantly influenced global financial markets, altering investor behavior and increasing market volatility…
Abstract
Purpose
Since February 2022, the conflict between Ukraine and Russia has significantly influenced global financial markets, altering investor behavior and increasing market volatility. Western countries’ sanctions on Russia have influenced market uncertainty. Academic literature has deeply investigated the market’s reaction to the conflict and demonstrated a diverse range of impacts. Our study delves into how corporate decisions to remain in or exit Russia during the conflict influence analyst sentiment.
Design/methodology/approach
Leveraging data on analysts' revision scores (ARS) from Eikon, Refinitiv, our analysis underscores the importance of analysts during periods of uncertainty (Kacperczyk and Seru, 2007; Loh and Stulz, 2018). Using static and dynamic panel analysis, we examine the impact of Russia exposure on ARS while controlling for key variables.
Findings
Companies that retain a presence in Russia tend to enhance the overall ARS score, contributing to increased optimism among analysts regarding forecasts for the firms in question. Controlling for endogeneity and underlying dynamics in ARS does not alter the main findings. All in all, the results confirm the absence of an impact on the companies' returns post-announcement to continue or leave Russia after the start of the conflict (Balyuk and Fedyk, 2023).
Originality/value
This research sheds light on the complex relationship between geopolitical events, corporate decisions and investor sentiment, offering valuable insights for stakeholders, policymakers and regulators.
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Emmanuel Sarpong-Kumankoma, Joshua Abor, Anthony Q.Q. Aboagye and Mohammed Amidu
This study aims to consider the effect of financial (banking) freedom and competition on bank efficiency.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to consider the effect of financial (banking) freedom and competition on bank efficiency.
Design/methodology/approach
With data from 11 Sub-Saharan African countries over the period 2006-2012, the study estimates both competition (market power) and bank cost efficiency using the same stochastic frontier framework. Subsequently, Tobit models, including instrumental variable Tobit regression, are used to assess how financial freedom affects the relationship between competition and bank efficiency.
Findings
The results show that increase in market power (less competition) leads to greater bank cost efficiency, but the effect is weaker with higher levels of financial freedom. This is not consistent with the quiet life hypothesis.
Practical implications
Policymakers usually take the view that opening up banking markets to greater competition may lead to higher efficiency. However, the results have shown that allowing banks to maintain some level of market power may be necessary to ensure banking system efficiency.
Originality/value
This study deepens the understanding of the inconsistent relationship between competition and bank efficiency, by using the same framework to measure both competition and efficiency, and by providing new empirical evidence on how the level of financial freedom affects this relationship.
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King Carl Tornam Duho, Joseph Mensah Onumah, Raymond Agbesi Owodo, Emmanuel Tetteh Asare and Regina Mensah Onumah
The study examines the impact of risk on the profit efficiency and profitability of banks in Ghana.
Abstract
Purpose
The study examines the impact of risk on the profit efficiency and profitability of banks in Ghana.
Design/methodology/approach
Data envelopment analysis was used to estimate profit efficiency scores and accounting ratios were used to measure profitability. The panel corrected standard error regression was used to assess the nexus using a dataset of 32 banks from 2000 to 2015.
Findings
The paper found that the Ghanaian banking industry exhibits a variable return to scale property, suggesting that average costs change with output size. Profit efficiency score for banks closer to the efficiency frontier is 61%. Credit risk is significant in enhancing profit efficiency and return on equity. Market risk is relevant in improving profit efficiency, return on asset and asset turnover. To drive profitability, bank managers have to be committed to effective liquidity risk, insolvency risk and capital risk management. Operational risk reduces shareholders' returns. The impact of size, age, stock exchange listing, cost efficiency and competition have are all been discussed extensively.
Practical implications
The findings contribute to the knowledge on the risk-performance nexus and provide information that is valuable to academics, bankers and regulators for policy formulation. The findings are relevant to the newly established Financial Stability Council.
Originality/value
This paper appears to be among the premier attempts to examine the effect of various risk types identified in the Basel III framework on bank performance in Africa.
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