Evolution of market concentration and competition in the microfinance industry of Bangladesh

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (6) ◽  
pp. 989-1007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md Aslam Mia
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Measurement Techniques ◽  
Large Data ◽  
Market Concentration ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Microfinance Institutions ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Lerner Index ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to measure and track the evolution of market concentration and competition in the microfinance industry in Bangladesh by employing both the structural and non-structural measurement techniques.Design/methodology/approachBy using a unique panel data set generated from the microcredit regulatory authority (MRA) annual reports, the sample includes 169 microfinance institutions (MFIs) and covers the period 2009-2014. The authors employed the Herfindahl-Hirschman index (HHI) and concentration ratio (CR) (largest 3, 8 and 20 MFIs) as structural measurement techniques and the Lerner index as a non-structural measurement technique. In addition, four different market indicators are used as representatives of deposit and credit markets to better explain the evolution of market concentration.FindingsThe results of HHI indicate that the sector is moderately concentrated and currently transitioning to an unconcentrated market. However, based on CR, the industry is still dominated by a few large MFIs. The Lerner index (non-structural approach) also confirmed that the level of competition is relatively high and likely to follow an inverted U-shape during the study period.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study will enhance our understanding of the market structure in the Bangladesh’s microfinance industry so as to inform important policy prescriptions. The results also provide impetus to the relatively young MRA to nurture competition in the market; simultaneously, the findings prompt management of the MFIs to cope with a competitive market environment.Originality/valueThis study is one of the first of its kind that includes a large data sample of microfinance market for a single country by employing both structural and non-structural measurement approaches.

scholarly journals A surrogate-based generic classifier for Chinese TV series reviews

2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 66-74
Author(s):  
Yufeng Ma ◽  
Long Xia ◽  
Wenqi Shen ◽  
Mi Zhou ◽  
Weiguo Fan
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Experimental Result ◽  
Digital Information ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Category Labels ◽  
Information Supply Chain ◽  
Feature Selection Techniques ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is automatic classification of TV series reviews based on generic categories. Design/methodology/approach What the authors mainly applied is using surrogate instead of specific roles or actors’ name in reviews to make reviews more generic. Besides, feature selection techniques and different kinds of classifiers are incorporated. Findings With roles’ and actors’ names replaced by generic tags, the experimental result showed that it can generalize well to agnostic TV series as compared with reviews keeping the original names. Research limitations/implications The model presented in this paper must be built on top of an already existed knowledge base like Baidu Encyclopedia. Such database takes lots of work. Practical implications Like in digital information supply chain, if reviews are part of the information to be transported or exchanged, then the model presented in this paper can help automatically identify individual review according to different requirements and help the information sharing. Originality/value One originality is that the authors proposed the surrogate-based approach to make reviews more generic. Besides, they also built a review data set of hot Chinese TV series, which includes eight generic category labels for each review.

Students' perceptions of education for sustainable development

2014 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 242-253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yvonne Zeegers ◽  
Ian Francis Clark
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Pedagogical Approach ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Tertiary Institutions ◽  
Reflective Journal ◽  
Reflective Journals ◽  
The Social ◽  
Perceptions Of Education ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – This study investigated whether a course which focused on raising students' awareness of sustainability, from a balanced perspective, that is, one which gives equal consideration to the social and economic aspects as well as the environmental would produce graduates with the knowledge and commitment required to drive the sustainability agenda forward. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – An analysis of students' final entries in their reflective journal was used to explore whether their views on sustainability reflected a balanced view. Findings – The findings of this research confirmed previous studies showed that initially students do have an enviro-centric bias. It also showed that despite experiencing a pedagogical approach which challenged views by encouraging discussion, debate, and reflection and which provided what was considered to be a balanced view of sustainability, many of the students still leaned towards an environmentally focused perspective of sustainability. Research limitations/implications – The conclusions are based on one data set but are supported by other data described in the paper. Practical implications – The finding led the authors to conclude that a concerted holistic effort within and across courses is needed within tertiary institutions if students' views about sustainability are to be challenged. Originality/value – The outcomes demonstrate that students' reflective journals can be used to gather information about the change in students' perceptions about sustainability.

Writing write-downs: the rhetoric of goodwill impairment

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-102
Author(s):  
Niklas Sandell ◽  
Peter Svensson
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Close Reading ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Goodwill Impairment ◽  
Financial Communication ◽  
Rhetorical Practice ◽  
Nasdaq Omx ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The aim of this paper is to study the rhetoric of goodwill impairment, more specifically rhetoric, as it is constructed in the form of accounts (i.e. statements that explain unanticipated or untoward behavior). The authors argue that goodwill impairment is not only a technical matter but also a rhetorical practice by means of which external scrutiny is responded to. Design/methodology/approach The data corpus consists of explanations provided by corporations regarding impairment of goodwill. Data were collected from annual reports from companies quoted on NASDAQ OMX Stockholm, Sweden. The impairment explanations were analyzed according to a taxonomy of account types. The explanations were subjected to close reading to discern the potential rhetorical functions of the different accounts. Findings Seven account types are identified and discussed, namely, excuse, justification, refocusing, concession, mystification, silence and wordification. Research limitations/implications There is a need for further research that explores the process of authorship (i.e. writing, editing, negotiating and revising) through which the texts of financial communication are produced. Practical implications The findings have implications for the future formulations of standards regarding qualitative explanations in financial reporting in general and explanations of goodwill impairment in particular. Originality/value The paper contributes to the knowledge about the use of natural language and rhetoric in financial communication.

Too tied to fail: a multidimensional approach to social capital in crowdfunding campaigns. Evidences from Italian agri-food businesses

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulpiana Kocollari ◽  
Alessia Pedrazzoli ◽  
Maddalena Cavicchioli ◽  
Andrea Girardi
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Multidimensional Approach ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Linear Regressions ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThe authors investigate the contributions of social capital (SC) dimensions (bridging, bonding and linking) in crowdfunding campaigns by comparing the dynamics of agri-food businesses with those of two other sectors – cultural and technological.Design/methodology/approachThe authors develop linear regressions on a proprietary data set of 5,290 projects launched on the Italian platform “Produzionidalbasso.com”, from 2014 to 2020.FindingsThe authors’ findings suggest that combining the three social capital dimensions (bridging, bonding and linking) has a more substantial overall effect on the number of backers involved in agri-food projects than in cultural and technological projects. Agri-food entrepreneurs effectively mobilize all resources embedded in the SC dimensions and therefore create the conditions to develop new ties that financially support the project.Practical implicationsAgri-food entrepreneurs may benefit from those results improving their funding strategies. Therefore, agri-food entrepreneurs can explore and exploit the instruments available on the CFD platform – video and rewards associated with the campaign – gaining more benefit from the backers involved compared with other project categories.Originality/valueThe study proposes a broader perspective regarding SC that encompasses the proponent, the company and the campaign with three different types of ties: bonding, bridging and linking. These SC dimensions can differently shape diverse sectors and this eclectic configuration can differentiate the effects of SC in crowdfunding campaigns. This study pinpoints how crowdfunding determinants change, based on project categories.

Can non-CEO inside directors add value? Evidence from unplanned CEO turnovers

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 456-482
Author(s):  
Laurie Krigman ◽  
Mia L. Rivolta
Keyword(s):  
Succession Planning ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Leadership Transition ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Matching Process ◽  
Inside Directors ◽  
Transfer Of Information ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the roles of non-CEO inside directors (NCIDs) in the new CEO-firm matching process using the context of unplanned CEO departures when immediate CEO succession planning becomes a sole board responsibility. Although critics argue that inside directors decrease the monitoring effectiveness of a board, inside directors arguably possess superior firm-specific experience and knowledge that can be beneficial during the leadership transition. Design/methodology/approach The authors use a comprehensive, manually collected data set of unplanned CEO departures from 1993 to 2012. Findings The authors find that NCIDs play an important role in the CEO transitioning process. They help firms identify qualified inside replacements and provide stability as the new permanent or interim CEO. In addition, NCIDs facilitate the transfer of information and help the new external CEOs succeed. They show that the longer the NCID stays with the company, the longer the tenure of the new CEO. They also document that the presence of NCIDs improves operating and stock performance; especially when the new CEO is hired from outside of the firm. Practical implications The impact of NCIDs is particularly important when the firm hires an outsider as the new CEO. These results suggest that board composition affects frictions in the CEO labor market. Originality/value The literature has predominantly focused on the downside of having inside directors. Too many inside directors on a firm’s board is often associated with ineffective boards and entrenchment. To the contrary, the authors focus on a potential benefit of having inside directors.

The role of investment property appraisal in European real estate companies

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-122
Author(s):  
Juha Mäki
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Real Estate ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Real Estate Industry ◽  
Publicly Traded ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Real Estate ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to examine the connection between appraisals of investment properties and earnings properties in companies from two perspectives: what kinds of companies employ the most reputable appraisers and how appraisers produce estimations. Design/methodology/approach The research uses annual reports of European Union (EU) publicly traded real estate companies and examines the period 2007-2016. Findings The contribution of this study lies in establishing that some indicators and features of real estate companies affect the choice of appraiser and also in illustrating differences in the results of property valuations. In short, smaller companies with weaker performance are less willing to use external valuation, and external appraisers produce more conservative estimations for investment properties. Practical implications The research produces beneficial information for investors and other stakeholders interested in the real estate industry. Originality/value This is the first novel study to examine the link between appraisals of investment properties and earnings properties in companies in detail.

Constructing accountability in inter-organisational collaboration

2014 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 619-634 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanna Andersson ◽  
Ewa Wikström
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
National Agency ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
Reporting Systems ◽  
Empirical Context ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse how accounts of collaboration practice were made and used to construct accountability in the empirical context of coordination associations, a Swedish form of collaboration between four authorities in health and social care. They feature pooled budgets, joint leadership and joint reporting systems, intended to facilitate both collaboration and (shared) accountability. Design/methodology/approach – Empirical data were collected in field observations in local, regional and national settings. In addition, the study is based on analysis of local association documents such as evaluations and annual reports, and analysis of national agency reports. Findings – Accountability is constructed hierarchically with a narrow focus on performance, and horizontal (shared) accountability as well as outcomes are de-emphasised. Through this narrow construction of accountability the coordination associations are re-created as hierarchical and accountability is delegated rather than shared. Research limitations/implications – Features such as pooled budgets, joint leadership and joint reporting systems can support collaboration but do not necessarily translate into shared accountability if accountability is interpreted and constructed hierarchically. Practical implications – When practice conforms to what is counted and accounted for, using the hierarchical and narrow construction of accountability, the result may be that the associations become an additional authority. That would increase rather than decrease fragmentation in the field. Originality/value – This research derives from first-hand observations of actor-to-actor episodes complemented with the analysis of documents and reports. It provides critical analysis of the construction and evaluation of accounts and accountability related to practice and performance in collaboration. The main contribution is the finding that despite the conditions intended to facilitate inter-organisational collaboration and horizontal accountability, the hierarchical accountability persisted.

Do organisations in developing economies legitimise their level of profit? Evidence from Fiji

2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Acklesh Prasad ◽  
Peter Green ◽  
Jon Heales
Keyword(s):  
Social Contract ◽  
Chief Executive Officer ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Developing Economies ◽  
Chief Executive ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Public Enterprises ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Corporate Annual Reports

Purpose This paper aims to investigate whether organisations in developing economies legitimise their level of profit. Design/methodology/approach Organisations’ level of profit is evaluated against the readability of sections of information available in the corporate annual reports. These sections include the Chairman’s Report, the Chief Executive Officer Report and the Notes to the Accounts. Findings More profitable organisations report more readable information in their corporate annual reports. Information in the non-mandatory sections of the report (Notes to the Accounts) is more readable compared to the information in the mandatory sections of the report (Chairman’s Report). Larger organisations report more readable information. Public Enterprises report more readable information compared to the Publicly Listed Companies. Research limitations/implications Organisations in the developing economies are aware of their role in their society. They respond to instances of possible violation of the implied social contract by sharing information in ways that relays news in certain ways. Practical implications Evidence of presence of legitimising activities by organisations would imply the need to strengthen the regulatory and monitoring guidelines to ensure efficient use of society’s resources and a fair rent charge for the utilities. Social implications There is a greater need to monitor and question organisations’ level of earned profit to ensure it is necessary to maintain their operations. Originality/value This study is the first attempt to investigate organisations’ immediate legitimising activities in relation to their reported profit.

scholarly journals Identification of organisational pathologies

Kybernetes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 285-312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro Pablo Cardoso Castro ◽  
Angela Espinosa
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Action Research Project ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Combined Use ◽  
Participative Methods ◽  
Viable System ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this is to explore the potential of the combined use of the viable system model (VSM) and social network analysis (SNA) to identify organizational pathologies. Design/methodology/approach Using a well-documented case study based on an academic consultancy intervention and Action Research Project, participative methods for the diagnostic of the VSM and questionnaires for the collection of connectivity data for the SNA were used to develop a heuristic to integrate these two tools and identify organizational pathologies. Findings This study provides empirical evidence of the benefits of the combined use of SNA to enhance the identification of organizational pathologies in VSM interventions, by providing an additional qualitative and quantitative framework for the interpretation of findings coming from VSM organizational diagnostics. Research limitations/implications This work explores some analytic routines of SNA frequently used in management. The validation is constrained to the nature of the data set from a case study. The document invites to a discussion of further and more advanced applications on the integration of the VSM and SNA. Practical implications The enhanced identification of organizational pathologies can contribute to the emerging new interest in applications of the VSM in management, providing robustness to the structural analysis of organizations. Originality/value This paper proposes a guideline to exploit the potential of the combined use of SNA and VSM. It opens new avenues for the study of organizational pathologies.

scholarly journals A longitudinal study of the textual characteristics in the chairman’s statements of Guinness

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 1714-1741 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alonso Moreno ◽  
Michael John Jones ◽  
Martin Quinn
Keyword(s):  
Impression Management ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Reporting Quality ◽  
Financial Reporting Quality ◽  
Quantitative Character ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Public Exposure ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to longitudinally analyse the evolution of multiple narrative textual characteristics in the chairman’s statements of Guinness from 1948 to 1996, with the aim of studying impression management influences. It attempts to contribute insights on impression management over time. Design/methodology/approach The paper attempts to contribute to external accounting communication literature, by building on the socio-psychological tradition within the functionalist-behavioural transmission perspective. The paper analyses multiple textual characteristics (positive, negative, tentative, future and external references, length, numeric references and first person pronouns) over 49 years and their potential relationship to profitability. Other possible disclosure drivers are also controlled. Findings The findings show that Guinness consistently used qualitative textual characteristics with a self-serving bias, but did not use those with a more quantitative character. Continual profits achieved by the company, and the high corporate/personal reputation of the company/chairpersons, inter alia, may well explain limited evidence of impression management associated with quantitative textual characteristics. The context appears related to the evolution of the broad communication pattern. Practical implications Impression management is likely to be present in some form in corporate disclosures of most companies, not only those companies with losses. If successful, financial reporting quality may be undermined and capital misallocations may result. Companies with a high public exposure such as those with a high reputation or profitability may use impression management in a different way. Originality/value Studies analysing multiple textual characteristics in corporate narratives tend to focus on different companies in a single year, or in two consecutive years. This study analyses multiple textual characteristics over many consecutive years. It also gives an original historical perspective, by studying how impression management relates to its context, as demonstrated by a unique data set. In addition, by using the same company, the possibility that different corporate characteristics between companies will affect results is removed. Moreover, Guinness, a well-known international company, was somewhat unique as it achieved continual profits.

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