Determining Factors of Transparency and Accountability in Local Governments: A Meta-Analytic Study

2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 129-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Alcaide-Muñoz ◽  
Manuel Pedro Rodríguez Bolívar
Keyword(s):  
Financial Crisis ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Information Disclosure ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Financial Information ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Information Transparency ◽  
Considerable Heterogeneity ◽  
Determining Factors ◽  
Economic And Financial Crisis

The importance granted to information transparency in improving the accountability of public administrations has become increasingly greater in recent years under a scenario of economic and financial crisis as a tool of control. Although academic studies are aimed at identifying the key factors underlying a higher level of economic-financial information disclosure by local governments, there exists considerable heterogeneity in the results obtained. In this sense, we have carried out a meta-analysis to validate previous empirical results, and highlight causes of the variations and contradictions identified. Our study shows the variables analysed to be positively associated with the disclosure of public financial information, but also that this depends on the context in which the research is carried out.

Transparency in Governments: A Meta-Analytic Review of Incentives for Digital Versus Hard-Copy Public Financial Disclosures

2016 ◽  
Vol 47 (5) ◽  
pp. 550-573 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Alcaide Muñoz ◽  
Manuel Pedro Rodríguez Bolívar ◽  
Antonio Manuel López Hernández
Keyword(s):  
Information Disclosure ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Financial Information ◽  
Hard Copy ◽  
Moderating Effects ◽  
Information Transparency ◽  
Administrative Culture ◽  
Analytic Review ◽  
Academic Researchers ◽  
Financial Disclosures

Prior research has indicated that information transparency in governments depends on institutional and environmental factors. Nonetheless, previous studies show heterogeneity in the results, and the academic researchers cannot make consistent conclusions. It makes it difficult to know the behavior of governments regarding their information policies. Therefore, making use of meta-analysis techniques, we integrate the empirical results reported by studies to determine the factors favoring the disclosure of public financial information via two modes of information disclosure— online versus hard-copy format. Several moderating effects— administrative culture, accounting regime, impact of measure used on determining variables, and level of government—have been considered and analyzed for their influence on the degree of correlation between the determinants and the disclosure of public financial information in both modes of information disclosure. Our study does not only show that the variables analyzed are positively associated with the disclosure of public financial information, but also that this depends on the context in which the research is conducted. The administrative style and the level of government are the main moderating effects that influence the results of analyzed studies.

scholarly journals Modelling of domestic and foreign visitors’ behaviour at commercial bank website during the recent financial crisis

2013 ◽  
Vol 61 (7) ◽  
pp. 2065-2070 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Drlík ◽  
Anna Pilková ◽  
Michal Munk ◽  
Peter Švec
Keyword(s):  
Financial Crisis ◽  
Commercial Bank ◽  
Information Disclosure ◽  
Foreign Market ◽  
General Information ◽  
Financial Information ◽  
Web Pages ◽  
Web Log Mining ◽  
Market Participants ◽  
Recent Financial Crisis

The paper focuses on modelling of commercial bank website visitors’ behaviour. The authors analyse domestic and foreign market participants’ interests in mandatory financial information disclosure of a commercial bank during the recent financial crisis and try to answer the question whether the purposes of Basel 2 regulations under the Pillar 3 – Market discipline, publishing financial information, have been fulfilled. The authors analyse bank website logs files using web log mining methods to better understand the rate of using of web pages, where mandatory financial information about Basel 2 is published. After data pre-processing the authors use association rule analysis to identify the association among content categories of the website. The results show that there is small interest in mandatory financial information disclosure by the commercial bank in general. The foreign website visitors take more concern in mandatory financial information disclosure, and they take less interest in general information about bank than domestic ones.

scholarly journals Crisis-driven reforms and local discretion: an assessment of Italy and Spain

2015 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Bolgherini
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Financial Crisis ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Qualitative Comparative Analysis ◽  
Institutional Framework ◽  
Local Discretion ◽  
Local Levels ◽  
Economic And Financial Crisis

The recent and still enduring global economic and financial crisis deeply impacted the institutional framework in Italy and Spain by prompting a series of reforms, which ultimately re-shaped the local government features. Based on a qualitative comparative analysis of recent reforms, the author shows that (directly and indirectly) crisis-driven provisions have significantly impacted the local levels and changed the central/local relations in both countries. During the years of crisis, a decrease in local discretion in its three main facets (fiscal, administrative, and political/functional) has taken place. This outcome could both allow for a better understanding of how central and local governments have interacted during the crisis and to contribute to the formulation of more general considerations on local discretion and central/local relations in Italy and Spain.

Relation between internet financial information disclosure and internal control in Spanish local governments

2019 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 176-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
María del Rocío Moreno-Enguix ◽  
Ester Gras-Gil ◽  
Joaquín Henández-Fernández
Keyword(s):  
Internal Control ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Information Disclosure ◽  
Financial Information ◽  
Public Governance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Financial Variables ◽  
New Public ◽  
Provision Of Services ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The application of new public governance by many countries has led to the creation of new management systems in public administration and the development of an effective accounting structure with efficient internal control to guarantee a proper provision of services that meet citizens’ requirements. The purpose of this paper is to focus on Spanish local government with the intention of determining the impact of the internal control structure on the disclosure of financial information on the internet. Design/methodology/approach The empirical analysis used combines a descriptive aspect with an explanatory one and seeks to answer the question of whether the internal control system (ICS) influences the disclosure of financial information on the websites of Spanish LGs. The authors use a multivariate model that allows us to verify the predictive capability of the previously defined explanatory variable, internal control, in 1,806 local governments. To test the hypotheses, the authors use two different models. Findings The authors consider the existence and quality of the financial information disclosure in relation to ICSs, and a series of financial and non-financial variables. The authors conclude that the structure of the ICS influences financial information disclosure and its quality. Also, the socio-political variable gives a better explanation of financial information disclosure than the financial variable. Originality/value This research is novel to determine whether the development of ICSs in Spanish municipalities has favored and increased the disclosure of financial information financial through the municipalities’ website transparency portal. These findings will contribute to increase the importance of internal control in the management of public entities.

Creating environmental sustainability: determining factors of water resources information disclosure among Chinese enterprises

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui-Cheng Yu
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Information Disclosure ◽  
Chinese Government ◽  
Chinese Enterprises ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Information Transparency ◽  
Industrial Organizations ◽  
Determining Factors ◽  
Level Of Significance

Purpose This paper aims to use stakeholder theory and the guanxi perspective to examine the determining factors of water resources information disclosure among Chinese enterprises in the context of authoritarian and normative pressures. Design/methodology/approach Content analysis is first applied to analyze the environmental sustainability reports of the sample enterprises from 2010 to 2017. Afterward, logistic regression analysis is used to analyze the coded data and examine the proposed hypotheses. Findings The empirical evidence shows that having the state as the largest shareholder is positively, but not significantly, related to disclosure of water resources information. Water-sensitive industries are positively and significantly related to the disclosure of water resources information. Guanxi is negatively related to disclosure of water resources information, but not to the level of significance. The effect of the interaction term (Guanxi × Large) on disclosure is negative and also significant. Practical implications It is necessary for enterprises to build environmental awareness, increase information transparency for better communication with stakeholders and also establish accountability mechanisms. For effective disclosure and higher information transparency, the Chinese Government should take measures to avoid the disruption of guanxi and ensure effective enforcement of laws. Social implications Industrial organizations or supervisory institutions are advised to encourage firms to build awareness of water-related risks and environmental sustainability and to improve how they disclose water resources information to stakeholders. Originality/value This study offers evidence of the determining factors of water resources information disclosure, a topic that has been rarely studied before. The evidence sheds light on how firms, especially those in China, have dealt with disclosure of water resources information in the context of authoritarian and normative pressures.

scholarly journals THE DETERMINANT OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION DISCLOSURE ON INDONESIAN LGs WEBSITE

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 85
Author(s):  
Kurniawan Cahyo Utomo ◽  
Y Anni Aryani
Keyword(s):  
Local Governments ◽  
Information Disclosure ◽  
Research Method ◽  
Sampling Method ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Research Data ◽  
Financial Information ◽  
Audit Opinion ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Positive Effect

This research aims to find out the effect of size, leverage, wealth, audit opinion, liquidity, and press visibility of Local Governments (LGs) on the financial information disclosure through Indonesian LGs website. Center for Regional Information Study (Pattiro) states that only 28% of LGs disclose their financial information through website, and this proves lack of public transparency. This research method is using multiple linear regression. The population is 456 Local Governments (LGs) in Indonesia, with the research sample as many as 187 LGs conducted using purposive sampling method. The type of research data is secondary data. Empirical results show that size and wealth have positive effect on the financial information disclosure through website. Press visibility has negative effect on the financial information disclosure through website. While leverage, audit opinion, and liquidity do not have effect on the financial information disclosure through website. The implication of this research is that The Ministry of Home Affairs could develop a system of reward and punishment to motivate the LGs to improve their level of financial information disclosure through the website.

Financial Disclosure based on Web-ICT Determinants

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahwan Hadi ◽  
Lilik Handajani ◽  
I Nyoman Nugraha Ardana Putra
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Financial Performance ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Information Disclosure ◽  
Public Information ◽  
Negative Influence ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Financial Information ◽  
Financial Disclosure ◽  
The Public

The purpose of this research is to analyze the influence of local government characteristic and accountability performance on the financial disclosure based on WEB-ICT and how it’s implications for local government financial performance as a response to the public information disclosure requirements. Using 307 regencies and cities local government in Indonesia as samples based on purposive sampling and analyze by SEM-PLS technique. The result shows that local government characteristic and accountability of local government performance has a positive influence on financial disclosure based on web-ICT. It indicates that local governments with better performance accountability levels and have greater or more mature characteristics will disclose wider financial information through the website. These findings are consistent with the signaling theory which states that organizations tend to provide a signal in the form of information disclosure to stakeholders to describe positive conditions. This study also found that financial disclosure based on web-ICT has a negative influence on local government financial performance, public sector characteristics that are nonprofit oriented cause disclosure of financial information does not encourage the financial performance of local government. Unlike the private sector, the disclosure of information encourages better corporate financial performance.

scholarly journals Vertical integration and profitability of the agrifood industry in an economic crisis context

2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. e0107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfredo J. Grau ◽  
Araceli Reig
Keyword(s):  
Financial Crisis ◽  
Transaction Costs ◽  
Economic Crisis ◽  
Vertical Integration ◽  
Separate Analysis ◽  
Specific Product ◽  
Determining Factors ◽  
Integration Strategies ◽  
Integrated Or ◽  
Economic And Financial Crisis

<p>In a setting of economic and financial crisis, most companies experienced a reduction in their profitability. Thus, our study allows us to identify vertical integration strategies developed by companies to overcome the crisis. This paper is aimed at unveiling the determining factors of the profitability of Spanish agrifood firms, depending on whether they are backwards vertically integrated or not. In order to attain our objective, we implemented a first difference regression model. The main contributions of the article lie in the incorporation of a variable that distinguishes integrated firms from the rest and the separate analysis of the two groups of firms. The results suggest that firms that seek to differentiate themselves, either through offering a specific product or through providing higher quality with a view to maintaining their reputation, are more likely to adopt vertical integration due to the higher transaction costs of relations with suppliers. The grouping carried out in this study is shown to be highly relevant as asset structure implies different strategies for actions aimed at increasing profitability.</p>

Information publicity and transparency of budget process in the consolidated territorial communities of Lvivska oblast: estimation and ways of improvement

2019 ◽  
pp. 46-52
Author(s):  
Olha Zhabynets
Keyword(s):  
Personal Responsibility ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Financial Information ◽  
Reform Process ◽  
Budget Process ◽  
Timely Manner ◽  
Public Authorities ◽  
Information Transparency ◽  
Key Indicator ◽  
Disclosure Of Information

In the process of decentralization in Ukraine, the information transparency of the management becomes important, which implies the openness and accessibility of information for all members of society. It reflects the current and perspective states of the reform process. Decentralization means not only a transferring of powers, but also financial resources and responsibilities from public authorities to local authorities. So the information publicity and transparency of the budget process should become the key indicator to estimate the effectiveness of the management of the finances of the consolidated territorial communities (CTCs). The purpose of the article is to evaluate and propose ways to increase the information publicity and transparency of the budget process at the local level. The author analyzes the implementation of the requirements of the Ukrainian legislation about informational publicity and transparency of the budget process in the CTCs of Lvivska oblast established in 2015-2017 and shows positive and negative moments in displaying of financial information on CTCs’ sites. A number of measures are proposed to increase the information publicity and transparency of the budget process at the local level. The author considers that in order to ensure publicity and transparency of the budget process in the CTCs of Lvivska oblast it is necessary: to unify and maximally simplify the mechanism of access of CTCs’ members to financial information through the standardization of the procedure for disclosure of information about the budget process; to increase the personal responsibility of the heads of the CTCs for the lack of financial information that is due to be published on the site of communities; to continuously monitor the availability and updating of information about the budget process on the CTCs’ sites in order to respond in a timely manner to the appearance of possible negative trends; to take preventive measures with the use of appropriate sanctions (fine, removal from office, etc.) in cases of delaying the submission of actual financial information to the site of CTCs, the disclosure of information in its entirety, the discovery of unreliability of financial information or other manipulations with figures or financial documents filed on CTCs’ website.

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