Are the macroeconomic effects on oil price asymmetric? An asymmetric quantile regression approach

Purpose This paper aims to contribute to the clarification of whether the dependence and causality between oil and the macrofundamentals change across different quantiles of the distribution function. Design/methodology/approach Within the context of an asymmetric quantile approach, we drop the assumption that variables operate at the upper tails of the distribution in the way that they operate at the mean. Findings Our innovative approach indicates that the response of oil prices not only differs according to the underlying source of the variables shock but also differs across the quantiles. Originality/value Although a number of recent studies are closely related to our present research, our novel findings offer some important insights that foreshadow the empirical results. The current research addresses to answer the following questions, in sequence: (i) Is there any extreme value dependence between the crude oil and macroeconomic variables? If yes, (ii) is the dependence symmetric or asymmetric? Finally, (iii) can this dependence be driven by the phases of the economic cycle?

The Determinant of Indonesian Stock Returns’ Volatility: Evidence from Islamic and Conventional Stock Market

Islamic stock market is apparently different from the conventional stock market due to the prohibition of unlawful goods and excessive risk-taking behavior. This study explores the extent to which the Indonesian Islamic and conventional stock returns' volatility responds to the macroeconomic indicators. This study employs Jakarta Islamic Index (JII) and Indonesian Stock Exchange (IDX) and uses monthly time-series data covering 2001: M1 - 2019: M12. The volatility of stock returns is measured using Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity (GARCH). By employing the Autoregressive Distributed Lag Model (ARDL), the results validate the evidence of the long-run relationship between the stock market's volatility and macroeconomic variables. A rising in money supply and an economic upturn reduce the volatility of conventional stock returns but only an expansionary money supply diminishes the volatility of Islamic stock returns. Conversely, high inflation and sharp depreciation of the Rupiah boost the stock returns' volatility. The results further show an interesting finding that the Islamic stock market's volatility is more responsive to changes in macroeconomic indicators than the volatility of their counterpart conventional stock market. Policymakers should take strict rules during the worst economic conditions to minimize the negative impact of the instability of macroeconomic variables.

Estimating Vat Refunds the Case of South Africa

This study intends to estimate VAT refund levels in South Africa in an ideal situation where there are well-equipped, incorruptible officials and a proper VAT system is in place. Understanding the dynamics behind the behaviour of VAT and its main drivers is crucial and could have a huge benefit to the country’s economy with regards to closing the tax gap related to this tax type. Using the data from various sources (VAT refunds and some macroeconomic variables), a Vector Autoregression (VAR) model was used to estimate the level of VAT refunds in South Africa. The model estimates VAT refunds for the period 2021/22 to be R242.7 billion, while the VAT refunds forecast for the period 2022/23 and 2023/24 amounts to R254.6 billion and R267.3 billion, respectively. Furthermore, VAT refunds contribute on average 17.5% to the total tax for the forecast period of 2021/22-2023/24. The study also indicates that the growth in VAT refunds is influenced by the growth in domestic VAT collections, increasing employment rate and the growth in both agriculture and construction GDP. The estimated level of VAT refunds can serve as an important consideration in the national budgeting processes in South Africa. Adequate provisions can be made to enable proper planning and distributions to government departments. To our knowledge, this study is the first of its kind for South Africa. In summary, the South African tax authority should not deviate from the primary goal of building sound VAT systems based on improved voluntary compliance through effective systems of self-assessment

Role of macroeconomic factors predicting financial performance of commercial banks in Nepal

Purpose: This study analyzes the effect of macroeconomic indicators such as domestic products, interest rate, inflation rate, and unemployment rate on the financial performance of commercial banks in Nepal. Design/Methodology: Five top commercial banks based on the financial performance were selected with stratified sampling, with secondary data of ten years. Hausman test was used to examine the endogeneity issue in the predictor variables and the effect of predicators on financial performance were estimated using OLS estimation (random effect model). Findings: The study result revealed significant influence of macroeconomic factors except the unemployment rate for estimating ROE of commercial banks in Nepal while no significant impact was revealed for ROA. Among the significant variables, GDP contributes more in predicting the financial performance of commercial banks in Nepal. Implication: As the study found significant role of macroeconomic variables to estimate ROE, bank administrators, government officials, and investors can focus in such variables, especially in GDP for competitive financial performance. They need to develop products based on macroeconomic variables. Besides, this study finds and tries to mitigate the gap in findings of previous empirical studies. Originality/value: This study contributes to the literature on macroeconomic determinants predicting financial performance of banks, more specifically in finding the gap in determining ROA and ROE within the country specific issue.

Impact of Macroeconomic Factors on Underpricing: Case of Indonesia Stock Exchange

The stock market is one of the alternatives chosen by companies to meet their funding needs. The first offering of a company's shares through the stock market to investors is called an Initial Public Offering. At the time of initial public offering, underpricing often occurs when the initial stock price on the primary market is lower than the stock price on the secondary market which will disadvantage the company because the collected funds are not maximum. This research aims to analyze the effect of macroeconomic factors on underpricing in companies conducting IPOs listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange from 2010 to 2020. Using Regression Linear Analyze we found that macroeconomic variables as Inflation, IDX Composite Index, and GDP significantly affect underpricing on IPO in Indonesia Stock Exchange for 2010 to 2020

Impact of Macroeconomic Variables, American Stock Market Index and Covid-19 Pandemic on Indonesia Capital Market Development (Time Series Study 1990-2020)

The purpose of this study is 1.) To analyze the influence of foreign investment on the development of the Indonesian capital market. 2).To analyze the influence of the Exchange Rate on the Development of the Indonesian Capital Market. 3).To analyze the influence of the Interest Rate on the Development of the Indonesian Capital Market. 4).To analyze the influence of the Dow Jones Stock Market Index on the Development of the Indonesian Capital Market. 5).To analyze the influence of the Covid-19 Pandemic (dummy variable) on the Development of the Indonesian Capital Market.6). In this study, secondary data and library research were used as a technique for collecting data, using semi-annual data for the period 1990-2020. The research was processed using the EViews 11 program with the multiple linear regression method. The results of the research are known if 1.) Foreign Direct Investment has a significant and positive effect on Capital Market Development. 2.) Exchange Rates have a significant and positive influence on the Development of the Indonesian Capital Market. 3.) Interest Rates have a significant and negative effect on the Development of the Indonesian Capital Market. 4.) The Dow Jones Stock Market Index has a significant and positive effect on the Development of the Indonesian Capital Market. 5.) The Covid-19 pandemic had a significant and negative effect on the Development of the Indonesian Capital Market in the period 1990 to 2020. The results of this study are expected to contribute to policy holders regarding the role of macroeconomic variables on the development of the capital market, so that in the future it can be one of the references in conducting the policy mix so as to improve the development of the Indonesian capital market.

Macroeconomic Policy Changes and Its Impact on Trade Unions, an Empirical Study on OECD Countries for the Period 2001-2020

This study examines the macroeconomic variables affecting trade union rate membership in OECD nations from 2001 to 2020. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has 38 of the most industrialized countries globally, which counts more than 80% of the global GDP; analyzing the macroeconomic movements of these countries means that we most likely know the variance of the global macroeconomic changes. We target the effect of employability, expenditure on education, unemployment, inflation, FDI, economic growth, wages, and salaries on trade union participation of employers. To conduct this research, we used data from World Bank, ILO, and OECD for 38 countries during the period 2001-2020, conducting a panel data Fixed Effect non-linear regression model with robust effect considering the non-normality and the possibility of heteroscedasticity of some of the variables. The results show that employers in the industry, the productivity in the service sector, and wages will increase the enrolment in a trade union, but on the other side, an increase of FDI and unemployment rates will decrease the association of employers to be in a trade union.