scholarly journals A comparative study of the historical and current development of the GCC insurance and takaful industry

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 356-369 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmad Alrazni Alshammari ◽  
Syed Musa Syed Jaafar Alhabshi ◽  
Buerhan Saiti
Keyword(s):  
Financial Services ◽  
Islamic Law ◽  
Global Market ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Gulf Region ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Insurance Agents ◽  
Market Shares ◽  
Insurance Density ◽  
Comparative Examination

Purpose This paper aims to present a comparative examination of the historical and current profiles of the insurance and takaful industry in the Gulf region. Meanwhile, it will provide overview and insightful information of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries for insurance and takaful providers for their marketing strategy purpose. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses insurance and takaful sectors in Gulf region as an exploring area where the data are extracted from the regulators’ annual reports and other reports issued by research houses and market players, e.g. Islamic Financial Services Industry, Swiss Re and Milliman. Findings The comparative analysis reveals that insurance activities penetrated the Gulf region through foreign institutions. After independence and booming oil prices, local institutions established the industry in an unregulated environment. As the industry grew and matured, the sector gradually became regulated. This supported the growth of the industry, leading to the emergence of the biggest takaful market in the world, with 72 takaful operators. Almost half of the takaful operators operate in the Saudi market. Regarding business lines, general lines dominated because of compulsory motor insurance for all cars and health insurance for expatriates. Insurance penetration and insurance density recorded a low figure in GCC compared to the global market because of a lack of product development, especially in family line, which many people think the life insurance contradicts Islamic law. Furthermore, it is low due to the poor channel of distributions with depend heavily on insurance agents that fails to reach the customers. Research limitations/implications Interestingly, the takaful market share is considered very low, e.g. 9 per cent in Oman 9 and 9.2 per cent in UAE, where the majority of population is Muslim, indicating that takaful providers should focus in these countries to grab better market shares. Originality/value As takaful business is an emerging area in Islamic finance and many insurance players are interested in it, this paper provides an overview and marketing insights of insurance and takaful industries in the GCC region.

Audit firms and industry specialization in an emerging economy

2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 338-362
Author(s):  
Karim Hegazy ◽  
Mohamed Hegazy
Keyword(s):  
Financial Services ◽  
Capital Investment ◽  
Emerging Economy ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Brand Name ◽  
Industry Specialization ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Audit Firm ◽  
Big 4 ◽  
Audit Firms

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the implications of audit industry specialization on auditor’s retention and growth within an emerging economy. Factors such as whether the firm is a Big 4, a firm with international affiliation, a local firm and the type of industry were studied to analyse the reasons behind audit firm retention and growth.Design/methodology/approachThis research is based on a field study related to audit firms providing services to listed companies in an emerging economy. The sample includes the top 100 publicly held companies’ in the Egyptian stock market during 2006-2011 for which their annual reports are analysed to determine the audit firms’ retention and growth. An assessment of the continuity of the auditors and the increase in the number of audit clients were also measured.FindingsThe results confirm that industry specialization has an important effect on the auditor’s retention, especially for industries where capital investment is significant such as buildings, construction, financial services, housing and real estate. Big 4 audit firms retained their clients because of their industry specialization and brand name. Evidence was found that good knowledge of accounting and auditing standards resulted in audit firms with international affiliation competing with the Big 4 for clients’ retention and growth.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the existing literature, as it is among the first to provide empirical evidence on auditor retention, growth and auditor’s dominance in an emerging economy such as Egypt.

Readability of sustainability reports: evidence from Indonesia

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 621-636
Author(s):  
Desi Adhariani ◽  
Elda du Toit
Keyword(s):  
Financial Services ◽  
English Language ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Public Companies ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Software Application ◽  
Flesch Reading Ease ◽  
Sustainability Reports ◽  
Market Capitalisation

PurposeThis study aimed at investigating the readability of sustainability reports in Indonesia. The Indonesian government, through the Financial Services Authority of Indonesia (Otoritas Jasa Keuangan [OJK]), has issued regulation POJK 51/2017 concerning the implementation of sustainable finance, which requires public companies to prepare sustainability reports—either stand-alone reports or parts of annual reports. Until 2017, only 30% of the top public companies in terms of market capitalisation issued the required report. Companies' decisions to provide the report stem from the greater visibility and access to resources that flow from additional narratives. However, the usefulness of such a report can be questioned.Design/methodology/approachWe used several linguistic techniques (Flesch Reading Ease [FRE], Flesch–Kincaid, and Gunning Fog measures) to evaluate the readability of sustainability reports. The analysis was performed using a software application called “Readability Studio 2015.”FindingsWe found the reports to have a low level of readability. This means that the information provided in the disclosures are very difficult to decipher and understand by the targeted users. Considering the similar levels of report readability in companies across industries, we observe a pattern of isomorphism in the way companies have implemented the same format and language construct in disclosing their sustainability information. They might apply the myth that complex language attracts investors or impresses others.Research limitations/implicationsThe techniques to measure readability that we use might not capture the whole dimensions of readability and understandability, especially in the non-English language.Practical implicationsThe results from this study can be used as evaluation tools for companies and regulators in preparing more intelligible and readable sustainability reports, as mandated by POJK 51/2017.Social implicationsSustainability reports act as a medium of accountability for a company's sustainable production and operations. Their usefulness for investors and other users often depends on the readability of the information.Originality/valueThe readability of sustainability reports in the context of Indonesia as an emerging market has not been comprehensively investigated in previous research. This study is among the first of its kind to support the quality enhancement of the reports.

scholarly journals Islamic finance and economic growth: the Turkish experiment

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed Ayoub Ledhem ◽  
Mohammed Mekidiche
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Endogenous Growth ◽  
Growth Model ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Banking Sector ◽  
Banking System ◽  
Global Market ◽  
Islamic Finance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Endogenous Growth Model

PurposeThis study aims to empirically investigate the connection between Islamic finance and economic growth in Turkey using the endogenous growth model.Design/methodology/approachIt applies quantile regression with the Markov chain marginal bootstrap resampling technique by adopting total Islamic financing as the main exogenous explanatory factor in the endogenous growth model, while the gross domestic product (GDP) is employed as a measure of economic growth. The sample consists of all full-fledged participation (Islamic) banks operating in Turkey spanning from 2013Q4 until 2019Q4. The study uses academic literature, official financial reports from the Participation Banks Association of Turkey, REDmoney Group, Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) database.FindingsThe results show that Islamic finance is promoting economic growth in Turkey, which mirrors the success of the New Turkish Economy Program (2019–2021) which aims at boosting economic growth by enhancing the Islamic finance share in the Turkish banking sector and the global market.Research limitations/implicationsTurkey has a dual banking system (conventional and participation (Islamic)) and both can influence the country's real economy. This study is limited to the influence of Islamic banking on Turkish economic growth. The study also restricts its size and coverage from 2013Q4 to 2019Q4, to cover the years over which data for all variables included in the research are available.Practical implicationsThis paper suggests the adoption of the Turkish successful experiment as a path to reach economic growth by increasing the Islamic finance share in the banking industry for countries that seek to promote economic growth by Islamic finance, as the findings of this paper support.Originality/valueThis study is the first that examines the influence of Islamic finance on economic growth under a new theoretical framework of the endogenous growth model in Turkey using a robust non-parametric approach.

A comparative analysis of employees’ and customers’ attitude towards Islamic banking

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Syed Ahmad Ali ◽  
Aida Loussaief ◽  
Muhammad Ahmed
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Global Market ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Islamic Banking ◽  
Islamic Banks ◽  
Strategic Positioning ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Past ◽  
Comparative Examination ◽  
Insight Into

Purpose Islamic banking industry with all of its exponential growth and global recognition has been under criticism for the past two decades. However, the problem signifies further when such criticism is made from within the organization and is well supported by outside (the customers). The purpose of this study is to provide a coherent exploration to investigate the factors that polarize its employees and customers across many parts of the world. Design/methodology/approach To investigate the phenomenon, a total of 30 responses were taken through interviews 15 each from customers and employees. Afterwards, the data was analysed and summarized into two categories. In doing so, the top five Malaysia’s Islamic banks were shortlisted to collect data from employees and customers. Findings A detailed thematic analysis resulted in six themes (Contradiction between theory and practice, Islamic banking knowledge and awareness, inadequate Shariah training, employees’ background, Shariah compliance, Islamic banking benefits) for employees and five (Islamic banking benefits, applying Shariah in Islamic banking, knowledge of Islamic banking, Islamic banking promotion, Islamic banking employees’ behaviour) for customers, respectively. Research limitations/implications The results have stronger implications for both practice and theory as organizations can assess stakeholders and their perceptions about Islamic banking. Another implication is the comparative examination of employees and customers which can potentially affect decision and policy making in Islamic banks. Islamic banks can also address employment-related issues related to employees’ behaviour vis-à-vis marketing-related problems faced by its customers that will ultimately improve its global market share and strategic positioning. Originality/value The study is based on the importance of Islamic banking in Malaysia and explores the factors that potentially create a positive or negative insight into Islamic banking – both in employees and customers.

scholarly journals Harmonizing and constructing an integrated maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah index for measuring the performance of Islamic banks

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 282-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fahmi Ali Hudaefi ◽  
Kamaruzaman Noordin
Keyword(s):  
Islamic Law ◽  
Performance Measure ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Islamic Banks ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mode Method ◽  
Conventional Banks ◽  
Fresh Insight ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Insight Into

Purpose This paper aims to develop a performance measure for Islamic banks (IBs) by harmonizing related studies. Furthermore, this work uses the developed yardstick to analyze the performance of a sample of 11 IBs from across different countries. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses the mix-mode method. The qualitative approach is engaged first to construct the IBs performance yardstick. Following this, the quantitative approach is applied through the use of the performance yardstick to measure the sample’s performance. Findings This study develops a maqāṣid-based performance yardstick adapted from previous works. The developed model in this study is called an integrated maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah--based performance measure (IMSPM). By using this performance measure, the present paper finds that the sample performed highest on the objective of nafs (self) over the three-year period. In addition, this study identifies the information which best indicates the sample’s performance during the analysis. Research limitations/implications This paper uses the sample’s annual reports. The analysis is thus limited to informational disclosure. Practical implications Islamic banking and financial institutions may use the IMSPM to communicate a measurable report on their promotion of the maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah (objectives of Islamic law). Social implications The evidence from 11 IBs is indicative of their efforts to realize maqāṣid al-Sharīʿah in the banking industry. This point may best challenge the practice of stigmatizing IBs for not being in line with the Sharīʿah (Islamic law) or of imitating conventional banks. Originality/value The novelty of this study lies in two points. First, this study harmonizes previous works to integrate financial and religious measures in a single yardstick. Second, by using the developed standard, this study offers a fresh insight into the global IBs’ performance, represented by 11 IBs worldwide.

Intellectual capital disclosures in an emerging economy: status and trends

2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 868-883 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarishma Sharma ◽  
Khushdeep Dharni
Keyword(s):  
Intellectual Capital ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Emerging Economy ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Positive Trend ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Industrial Manufacturing ◽  
Structural Capital ◽  
The Status ◽  
Reported Data

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to study the status and trend of intellectual capital disclosures by selected companies in India. Three categories of intellectual capital disclosures across six industry groups were measured. The relation of the three categories of disclosures, i.e. human capital, relational capital and structural capital disclosures with the measures of organisational performance such as sales, R&D, R&D intensity, net profit and export intensity has also been studied. Design/methodology/approach Based on National Industrial Classification 2008, six sectors, namely pharmaceutical, basic metals, industrial manufacturing, energy, financial services and information technology were included in the study and 20 companies were selected from each sector based on the availability of data from 2004-2005 to 2013-2014, thus, making a sample of 1,200 firm-years. For collecting the data, a list of keywords related to various dimensions of intellectual capital was prepared and the count of keywords was searched in the annual reports of the companies. Findings Significant and positive trend coefficients were found in the majority of the sectors. Analysis revealed that trend coefficients differed across various sectors indicating the presence of sector specificity. Results of trend analysis reveal that structural capital-related disclosures have stagnated in case of pharmaceutical sector after hitting the peak. Significant variations were found across sectors in terms of all three types of intellectual capital disclosures. Results of study empirically support the fact that intellectual capital disclosures tend to increase with size of the organisation. Research limitations/implications As data have been collected from annual reports of the companies, the accuracy of the findings is limited to the accuracy of the reported data. Originality/value The study is an original piece of work. This study provides an insight into the disclosure trend of intellectual capital in an emerging economy.

Seeking specific relief in cases of Islamic banking in Malaysia – an analysis

2018 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 325-341
Author(s):  
Aishath Muneeza
Keyword(s):  
Financial Services ◽  
Islamic Law ◽  
General Rule ◽  
Islamic Banking ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Legal Principles ◽  
Banking And Finance ◽  
Muslim Countries ◽  
Library Research ◽  
Civil Codes

Purpose Often, the application of specific relief to Islamic banking is unspoken and unwritten. However, few studies suggest that legislation on specific relief needs amendment to cater for the effective application of Islamic banking and finance in the country and proposing the idea to introduce an Islamic Specific Relief Act. This paper aims to understand the application of specific relief to Islamic banking in Malaysia. This paper will look at the application of specific relief in Malaysia and discuss the extent of its application to Islamic banking cases reported in Malaysia from 1983 to 2015. The study will shed light on the general types of specific relief from Malaysian and Islamic law perspectives to conclude whether the provisions of Malaysian specific relief law invoked in courts in Islamic banking cases are in line with the general principles of Sharīcah. To further support this, evidence from various commercial civil codes of Muslim countries have been discussed to analyse these provisions from a more practical perspective. Design/methodology/approach This is a legal exploratory study primarily focussed on library research. Findings When it comes to Islamic banking, federal legislations dealing with commercial matters are applicable. For example, in Islamic banking products, if the land is the subject matter, then National Land Code 1965 shall be applied, and when dealing with Islamic banking agreements, the provisions of Contracts Act 1950 shall be followed. This has been highlighted as a problem faced by Islamic financial services in the case of Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim v. Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad and other cases where the judge referred Engku Rabiah and quoted that in Islamic banking transactions, “the transactions entered by the parties may be Sharīcah-compliant in the first place, but upon enforcement of the contracts, the court may make orders and decisions that may side line the Islamic legal principles”. This happens when the substantive laws applicable to Islamic banking are incompatible with Islamic law. Fortunately, the analysis of the relevant sections of Specific Relief Act 1950 in this research proves that the provisions reviewed are in line with Sharīcah. However, to further enhance the operation of specific relief, the granting of specific relief could be made a general rule rather than an exceptional rule available with stringent rules. The research revealed that Specific Relief Act (1950) is expressly referred and discussed only in three cases reported from 1983 to 2015. There are only two specific sections of Specific Relief Act (1950) that have been deliberated in the reported case law on Islamic banking: provisions related to granting of a mandatory injunction and specific performance of contracts. Originality/value It is anticipated that this paper will assist to comprehend the importance of converging law and Sharīcah in legislations to attain Sharīcah compliance and will help to realise that not all conventional legislations are Sharīcah non-compliant.

Blockholding and agency cost: evidence from Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ibe Ibekwe
Keyword(s):  
Financial Services ◽  
Agency Costs ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Agency Cost ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Governance Mechanism ◽  
Firm Level ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Significant Negative Relationship

PurposeThe study examines how blockholding, blockholding nationality and multiple blockholder structures (MBS) are related to agency cost in Nigeria.Design/methodology/approachData sourced from the annual reports of 84 non-financial services firms listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) from January 1, 2008, to December 31, 2015, were analyzed using the hybrid model in Stata 15.FindingsBlockholding showed a significant negative relationship with the expense ratio (ER) measure of agency cost at the between-firm level but not significantly related to asset utilization ratio (AUR). This result was driven more by foreign blockholding and concentration of control, which were negatively and significantly related to the ER. Concentration of control is negatively related to the AUR. Domestic blockholding and the number of blockholders were not significantly related to agency cost. Foreign-blockholder-firms had a significantly greater concentration of control (lesser contest for control) than domestic-blockholder-firms.Practical implicationsThe findings suggest that foreign blockholding would be more effective in controlling agency costs in Nigeria. While the concentration of control (lesser contest for control) appears to be an efficient governance mechanism for reducing agency costs associated with expenses in Nigeria, it seems to exacerbate agency costs associated with asset utilization.Originality/valuePrevious researchers have not studied how foreign and domestic blockholding are related to agency cost. They also have not studied how MBS and the contest for control are related to agency cost and explain differences in the foreign/domestic blockholding-agency cost relationships in the Nigerian context.

Cultural values in financial services advertising: a cross-cultural study of magazine ads in the USA and Korea

2014 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 349-360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Young-A. Song ◽  
Hongmin Ahn ◽  
Yongjun Sung
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Values ◽  
Cultural Differences ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Global Market ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Business News ◽  
Cultural Frameworks ◽  
The Usa ◽  
The Difference

Purpose – This paper aims to examine whether culture impacts the execution of financial services advertising (FSA). Specifically, this study investigates how cultural values are reflected in FSA by comparing magazine ads in the USA and Korea. Design/methodology/approach – This study analyzed the content of a total of 1,889 (USA = 1,486; Korea = 403) FSA in print business/news magazines from 2005 to 2009. Findings – The finding of this study showed significant cultural differences of FSA in terms of collectivism, high and low cultural contexts, human models/celebrity presence and time orientation between the USA and Korea. However, the difference in individualistic cues between the USA and Korea was not significant. Research limitations/implications – Using the integration of multiple cultural frameworks will better explain cultural differences reflected in marketing communication in the financial services (FS) sector. Future research is needed to generalize how such frameworks are reflected in different settings, such as different media or different countries. Practical implications – The findings of this study suggest that FSA reflect cultural values, providing further implications for FS companies targeting the global market. Originality/value – This study extends the understanding of impact of cultural values on advertising by exploring the FS industry.

Comparative compliance status of AAOIFI and IFSB standards

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 607-628 ◽  
Author(s):  
Md. Hafij Ullah ◽  
Ruma Khanam ◽  
Tabassum Tasnim
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Financial Services ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Reporting Standards ◽  
Islamic Banks ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Islamic Bank ◽  
Operational Risks ◽  
Islamic Financial Institutions

Purpose This paper aims to examine the compliance status of Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) Financial Accounting Standards-1 and Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB) Standard-4 by Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited (IBBL), recognizing the regulatory influence for complying with AAOIFI and IFSB standards and identifying the factors influencing the compliance with these standards. Design/methodology/approach The present study used content analysis approach for investigating the compliance status. The study considered IBBL as the only sample because it is the only Islamic bank in Bangladesh which is the member of both AAOIFI and IFSB. Hence, this paper investigated the compliance status of IBBL as a member of AAOIFI and IFSB. The study examined the annual reports of 2008-2012 as these were the latest and contemporary reports in 2013 when the study was conducted. SPSS software version 22.0 was used to analyze the data. A total of 203 items under 13 categories of AAOIFI standard and 133 items under 17 categories of IFSB standard were considered. Ordinary least squares was run to test the hypotheses of the study. Findings The study found that IBBL on an average complied 46.31 per cent of AAOIFI and 52.50 per cent of IFSB standards during the period, and importantly, IBBL did not comply some of the categories of required disclosures. The study also observed that size, as measured by total asset and number of branches, has a significant influence on compliance with IFSB standard, but not AAOIFI. The findings of the study depicted that IBBL did not reasonably recognize the importance of complying with AAOIFI and IFSB standards. Poor compliance or non-compliance with AAOIFI and IFSB accounting and reporting standards by IBBL exposed that the bank is not efficient in managing Shari`ah compliance risks, operational risks and transparent financial reporting. Therefore, recognition of the Shari`ah standards by the respective IFIs and a “regulatory push” is vital for improving the level of compliance with these standards. Research limitations/implications The study considered IBBL as the only sample of the study because it is the only Islamic bank in Bangladesh which holds the membership of both AAOIFI and IFSB. The fiscal years 2008-2012 only were selected to evaluate the compliance status of the AAOIFI and IFSB standards in preparation and presentation of the financial statements of IBBL for comparative analysis because IFSB standard for accounting and disclosure was formulated in 2007; hence, the study could not evaluate the compliance status before 2008. Practical implications The study will help IBBL in identifying their limitations in complying AAOIFI and IFSB standards and also the regulators in designing the accounting and reporting frameworks in regulating Islamic banks in Bangladesh. The study would help IBBL in identifying the reasons for non-compliance, how improvement in compliance level may help the bank in mitigating Shari`ah compliance and operational risk and how new legal and institutional framework may improve the level of compliance with those standards. Social implications The study observed that the AAOIFI and IFSB standards were set for increasing the level of Shari`ah compliance, but the compliance status showed that different classes of accounting and reporting were ignored from compliance by IBBL. This study will benefit the stakeholders in choosing a Shari`ah-compliant bank. Originality/value This is a unique study which considered both AAOIFI and IFSB accounting and reporting standards in evaluating the reporting compliance status of an Islamic bank and identified the influence of reporting compliance on managing Shari`ah compliance risks, operational risks and transparency. This study expects to instigate the Islamic banks in complying accounting and reporting standards for being Shari`ah-compliant.

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