Financial Year Research Articles

The effect of age on musculoskeletal injury compensation costs in South Australian professional urban firefighters: A cohort study.

Firefighting is recognised as a physically demanding occupation involving exposure to hazardous environments and activities. An aging workforce combined with the age-related decline in physical fitness may result in increased future workers' compensation expenditure for fire service organisations. The objective of this research was to investigate the costs associated with musculoskeletal sprain and strain injury and the impacts of age and injury location on Workers' Compensation claims submitted by professional urban firefighters. Claim rates, direct costs, and days lost were extracted from a professional Fire Service organisation's workers' compensation claim database for financial years between 2011 to 2018. The mean cost per claim increased with age, with a mean claim cost of the 60-70-year-old group over 10 times more than the 20-29-year-old group. The mean days lost per claim were also higher for claims submitted by firefighters aged over 50. Older firefighters miss more workdays when injured and are associated with increased claims costs, particularly those in the 60-70-year group. With an aging workforce, Fire Service organisations must implement appropriate management and prevention strategies to reduce the potential risks associated with an aging workforce.

Does integrated reporting offer firms more legitimacy?

PurposeThe study delves into the impact of integrating reporting (IR) on three earnings management tools, namely classification shifting (CS), real-based earnings management (REM) and accrual-based earnings management (AEM) under the Indian institutional settings.Design/methodology/approachThe data analysis involved the application of panel data regression models. Our dataset comprises 2,244 firm-years listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange spanning over financial years from March 2015 to 2021. To address endogeneity and self-selection bias concerns, a propensity score matching technique has been employed.FindingsOur empirical results exhibit that IR-adopting firms are engaged in earnings management. Further, we find that IR-adopting firms have reduced their engagement in AEM and REM, however, their CS practices have been increased, indicating the substitution relationship between earnings management tools after the adoption of IR. It implies that firms shift their preference from more to less observable earnings management tools after the adoption of the IR, which aligns with the idea that firms adopt IR to gain legitimacy, however, their intention to deceive stakeholders through earnings management remains unchanged. The inclination of firms toward CS can be ascribed to its cost-effectiveness, as it leaves net profit unchanged, hence less likelihood of being detected by auditors. Overall, our results align with the principle of legitimacy theory.Research limitations/implicationsThe study focuses exclusively on three primary forms of accounting manipulation and assesses IR holistically, rather than investigating the influence of each capital individually within IR.Practical implicationsWith a shift towards less detectable methods like CS, auditors must adapt their scrutiny and be mindful of their clients' IR adoption. Investors should scrutinize IR-adopting firms' financial disclosures, especially line items, as CS does not impact the net profits.Originality/valueIt is the pioneering research to thoroughly explore the impact of IR on different earnings management tools and strengthen the conceptual frameworks of legitimacy theory by documenting that firms adopt IR to gain legitimacy, however their intention to engage in earnings management remains intact.

Implication Of Environmental Related Cost On Performance Of Oil And Gas Companies In Nigeria

The study examined the implication of environmental cost on performance of oil and gas companies in Nigeria. The objectives of the study are to examine whether environmental cost affects return on capital employed and market value added of oil and gas companies in Nigeria. Data for this study were retrieved from reports of the companies from 2013-2017 financial years and values for the qualitative data such as environmental regulatory cost (ERC) and environmental health and safety cost (EHSC) were measured using dichotomy procedures. Values were assigned from 0-5 based on the level of disclosure using global reporting index (GRI). Having examine the content of the financial report of the companies, the analytical technique used for this study was the panel regression method. The research results indicate that there exists a relationship between environmental cost and profitability of oil and gas companies in Nigeria. The study therefore recommended amongst others that Oil and gas companies should focus reasonable attention to addressing relevant environmental issues and cost involvement disclosed in their financial report for the purpose of profit measurement.

Value Relevance and Share Price Dynamics: An Empirical Analysis of Indian Multinational Corporations

The share price is one of the major aspects of taking financial decisions by the investors. This study has investigated the impact of value relevance on the share price of Indian multinational companies. In this study, the top 10 multinational corporations (MNCs) have been taken for the analysis of data from the financial year 2018–2019 to 2022–2023. However, share price has been considered a dependent variable, whereas earnings per share (EPS), book value per share (BVPS), price to book value (PB), price to earnings (PE) and assets turnover ratio (ATR) have been considered independent variables. By employing correlation, ordinary least squares (OLS), fixed effect model (FEM), random effect model (REM), Hausman test and the Jarque–Bera test, data have been analysed and significant associations among the given variables have been found. The outcome of the study has revealed that there is a significant impact of value relevance on the share price of the MNCs in India, as the p value derived from the analysis is less than .05. This means that a statistically significant relationship exists between the variables considered in the study. JEL Codes: G10, M41, Y10

Litigation claims in Urology in the UK National Health Service: an analysis of the trends, costs and causes over a 16-year period.

To analyse the litigation trends and the reasons for claims within the specialty of Urology, within the UK National Health Service (NHS), over a 16-year period. Data were requested from NHS Resolution under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. This included the total number of claims in Urology, the number of these that were successful (settled or closed), and the costs in damages paid out per financial year between 2006 and 2022. A breakdown of the successful claims by their primary cause was also collected. These were coded into the categories: 'non-operative', 'intraoperative', 'postoperative', and 'other'. A total of 4124 litigation claims were made between 2006 and 2022 and 60.9% (2511/4124) of these claims were successful. In all, £145 million (British pounds) was paid out in damages. The number of successful claims increased 2.9-fold from the start to end of this 16-year period, and the costs in damages paid out increased 10-fold. Regarding primary causes for the successful claims, failure or delay in treatment (20.9%, 525/2511), failure or delay in diagnosis (14.5%, 364/2511), and intraoperative problems (9.1%, 229/2511) accounted for the highest proportion. Overall, non-operative causes for successful claims accounted for 73.3% (1840/2511), intraoperative for 20.1% (504/2511), and postoperative for 3.9% (98/2511). The number of successful urological litigation claims, and their associated costs is rising. The majority are due to non-operative causes, which may be partially explained by NHS waiting lists alongside the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Does Activity Based Budgeting Matters?

This study aimed to assist AF company in reducing production costs from a financial perspective by employing Activity Based Budgeting (ABB), and to measure its performance by using non-financial perspectives namely operational efficiency, quality and time. The ABB is a tool for determining costs related to activities more accurately, as well as making the planning process more precise and corrections more effective so as to increase the company's competitive advantage. This research is a case study that AF company in Malang as the object. Data was collected by doing observation about the operational and manufacturing process, and analysing financial report year 2022. The results suggested that the company can reduce the selling price due to its lower production costs, thereby making its products more competitive in the market. This should resolve the company's main problem of declining sales. ABB can also improve teamwork among employees, budget design and the elimination of non-value-added activities. One potential benefit of an activity-based budget is that it can provide company with more accurate information regarding costs and resources needed in the work process. This result can be employed as a guideline for carrying out company activities.

A Quality Improvement Project On The Introduction Of A Nurse-Led, Patient Self-Monitored Blood Pressure Telehealth Platform

Abstract Background Telehealth is a strategy for health and wellbeing promotion. Hypertension is a modifiable risk factor in vascular health. Timely, reliable and accessible identification of this risk is important. Working within an interdisciplinary ambulatory neurovascular hub, a nurse-led model of service provided the opportunity to effectively identify and modify this risk through the secondary prevention measure of hypertension management. Methods An interdisciplinary neurovascular service quality improvement group, the “Stroke Big Room”, evaluated service models and telehealth platforms for patient-self monitoring of hypertension. The telehealth “Florence” platform was introduced. An accompanying Patient Information Leaflet was developed with the Communications Team within the Trust. Patients with a blood pressure of 130/80mmHg and a confirmed diagnosis of minor stroke or transient ischaemic attack were offered the “Flo” platform. Results A 20-patient sample found: 50% required no treatment change, 30% were commenced on antihypertensive treatment and 20% required antihypertensive dose increase. In the 2023/24 financial year, 285 patients participated in the Flo platform. Conclusion Timely identification and modification of hypertension is a reversible risk factor for neurovascular disease. A nurse-led service for the provision of, education on and support in use of a telehealth monitoring platform is an effective approach. This service model allows for effective secondary prevention treatment in a rapid and accessible way. The telehealth platform “Flo” was accessible to patients on the basis of patient reported outcome measures. As a result of the use of the platform, pharmacotherapeutic interventions occurred in 50% of participants in this telehealth programme.

EFFECTS OF BUDGET IMPLEMENTATION ON GOAL ACHIEVEMENT OF STATE OWNED TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN EBONYI STATE, NIGERIA

The evaluation of budget implementation on goal achievement in Ebonyi State of Nigeria prompted the specific objectives of the research work to include: budgetary control mechanism, late approval of budget, budget variance information and late release of approved budgeted funds. Survey research design was adopted and data were collected using close-ended questionnaire. The questionnaire was structured on a 5-point Likert scale statistical rating method. The total population of the study was 259 while the sample size was 157. Collected data were presented on frequency distribution tables, simple percentages and multiple regression analysis. The data were analyzed using Statistical Packages for Social Sciences, version 20, 2023. The study adopted Stakeholders Approach Theory by Edward (1984). The study unveiled that budgetary control mechanism and budget variance information had positive and significant effects while late approval of budget and late release of approved budgeted funds had negative and no significant effects on goal achievement of state owned tertiary institutions in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. The implications of the study were that budgetary control mechanism and budget variance information do not hinder budget implementation on goal achievement. Late approval of budget and late release of approved budgeted funds hinder budget goal achievement, encourage abandonment of projects and non-quality project perfection. Analysis of budget variance aids management of state institutions to adjust budget proposal in respect to deficit budget and, idle resources from surplus budget on any item(s) of budget are reinvested in achieving other goal congruence of the institutions. The study concluded that early approval of budget and timely release of approved budgeted funds facilitate budget implementation and aid in goal achievement of budget proposals of the institutions. The research therefore recommended that the management of the state institutions’ budget committee and other budget stakeholders should be familiar with the processes of budgeting and budget operation to facilitate planning and preparation of financial year budget void of errors and omissions for enablement of early approval of budget and timely release of approved budgeted funds among other measures capable of harnessing budgeting values in the State.

Pengaruh Simpanan Saham terhadap Ketahanan Lembaga pada KSP Kopdit Guru Kelubagolit Adonara

The aim of this research is to examine and analyze the effect of stock savings on the resilience of the KSP Kopdit Guru Kelubagolit Adonara institution. This research is a type of quantitative research with an associative approach. The data used in this research is financial report data consisting of the number of shares deposits and remaining business results of KSP Kopdit Guru Kelubagolit Adonara for the 2014 – 2023 financial year. The data analysis method used in this research is simple linear regression analysis. The results of this research show that the sig. (p-value) of the stock savings coefficient is 0.001 < 0.05, with a calculated t value of 5.029 > t table 1.81246. This shows that stock savings have a significant effect on Remaining Business Results, with a regression coefficient for Stock Savings of 0.168, which shows that every increase in Stock Savings will increase SHU by IDR 0.168. This means that there is a positive relationship between Share Savings and SHU, where an increase in Share Savings will lead to an increase in the cooperative's financial performance as measured through SHU.

Characteristics of children with invasive pneumococcal disease eligible for the 1+1 compared with the 2+1 PCV13 infant immunisation schedule in England: a prospective national observational surveillance study

On Jan 1, 2020, the UK transitioned from a 2+1 to a 1+1 national infant immunisation schedule with the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13). We assessed whether the 1+1 PCV13 schedule had any impact on incidence, disease characteristics, or outcomes after invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in eligible children aged 0-3 years. The UK Health Security Agency conducts IPD surveillance and serotyping of invasive pneumococcal isolates via whole-genome sequencing in England. IPD was defined as identification of Streptococcus pneumoniae in a sterile site. We compared IPD incidence, demographics, clinical presentation, comorbidity prevalence, serotype distribution, and case-fatality rates (CFRs) in children from a single birth cohort eligible for the 1+1 schedule (born between Jan 1, 2020, and Dec 31, 2022) who developed IPD in the 2022-23 financial year (April to March) with children from three equivalent historical birth cohorts (born between Jan 1, 2015, and Dec 31, 2019) eligible for the 2+1 schedule who developed IPD during three respective pre-pandemic financial years: 2017-18, 2018-19, and 2019-20. There were a total of 702 IPD episodes in 697 children, including 158 (incidence 8·99 per 100 000 person-years) in the single 1+1 birth cohort and 544 (incidence 9·39 per 100 000 person-years) in the 2+1 birth cohorts, with no significant difference in the incidence of overall IPD (incidence rate ratio 0·96, 95% CI 0·80-1·14, p=0·63), PCV13-type IPD (1·21, 0·71-2·00, p=0·45), or pneumococcal meningitis (0·97, 0·66-1·40, p=0·88). Comorbidity prevalence, clinical presentation, and CFRs were also similar between the two cohorts, as was the percentage of cases in infants too young to be vaccinated (<2 months old) and infants aged 5-11 months who received one or two PCV13 priming doses, in the 1+1 and 2+1 cohorts respectively. After 3 years, the 1+1 schedule continues to provide direct and indirect protection against PCV13-type IPD in children, with no significant change in overall IPD incidence, serotype distribution, clinical presentation, or CFRs in children eligible for the 1+1 compared with the 2+1 schedule. Ongoing surveillance will be important to assess longer-term direct and indirect population protection. None.

Predictive validity of the Questionnaire for Medical Checkup of Old-Old for all-cause mortality and disability incidence.

The Questionnaire for Medical Checkup of Old-Old (QMCOO) has been used nationwide in Japan as part of the health checkup for latter-stage older adults since the financial year 2020. Although the QMCOO is useful in screening for frailty, its cutoff values for predicting adverse health outcomes have rarely been assessed. Therefore, this study aimed to calculate the cutoff values for predicting all-cause mortality and disability incidence and to evaluate their predictive validity. This study included 3837 health checkup recipients aged ≥75 years residing in Higashiura Town, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. The health checkup was conducted from June 1, 2020, to January 31, 2021. Mortality and disability incidence were analyzed separately. For the latter, participants with a disability history were excluded, leaving 3040 available for analysis. During the follow-up of 11 191 and 8550 person-years, 276 died and 438 developed a disability, respectively. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (95% confidence intervals) for all-cause mortality and disability incidence were 0.68 (0.65-0.71) and 0.66 (0.63-0.68), respectively, with QMCOO cutoff values at 3/4 and 2/3 points. Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, self-reported diseases, and frequency of alcohol consumption demonstrated the predictive validity of those cutoff values. The optimal cutoff value of the QMCOO for predicting all-cause mortality was 3/4, while the optimal cutoff value for predicting disability incidence was 2/3 among an older Japanese population. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; ••: ••-••.

Measuring the impact of automated dispensing cabinets implementation on data and inventory management of human normal immunoglobulin in an acute teaching hospital: A pre- and post- intervention study

BackgroundHuman Normal Immunoglobulin (HNIg) is a complex plasma-derived blood product used to treat a variety of medical conditions. Global supply problems have increased focus on HNIg stewardship, including mandatory recording of HNIg usage on the National Immunoglobulin Database (NIgD). Local departmental audits identified significant inconsistencies in data uploaded to NIgD. Inventory management issues caused a number of stock losses in the last financial year. A paper-based HNIg batch number recording system was replaced with the use of Automated Dispensing Cabinets (ADCs), which generated an electronic batch number report, with matching fields required for electronic upload to NIgD. AimTo measure the impact of ADC implementation on the accuracy of data uploaded to NIgD, HNIg stock control and staff time associated with processes of HNIg data and inventory management. MethodThree months of pre- and post-implementation HNIg dispensing data was compared to the data uploaded to the NIgD for discrepancies. Inventory reports were used to identify unexplained stock adjustments. Time and motion methods were used to quantify staff time associated with HNIg activities. ResultsPre-implementation: 20.7 % (3762.5 g/18,217 g) of HNIg by volume (23.7 % of dispensing episodes; 66/279) were inaccurately uploaded or absent on the NIgD and three stock adjustments were made (loss of >£15 k). Post-implementation: 12 % (2325 g/19,347 g) of HNIg by volume (10.8 % of dispensing episodes; 31/286) were inaccurately uploaded or absent on the NIgD and zero stock adjustments were observed; Mean time for dispensing per HNIg prescription reduced from 17 min to 8 min; Time spent uploading data to NIgD per month reduced from 5 h to 1.75 h. Discussion/ConclusionThe use of ADCs improved accuracy of NIgD data upload. Following implementation direct observations have cited unregistered or finished patient episodes, dispensing procedural compliance, and user familiarity with the system as common reasons for incomplete data uploads to NIgD. The new ADC process had consequences of forcing dispensing procedure compliance to improve uploads, whilst reducing dispensing times. It led to improved stock control and removed upload burden from dispensers. ADC stock discrepancy alerts allowed staff to proactively resolve discrepancies in real time. Time taken for additional processes to support management of stocks in ADCs, including monthly stock cycle counts, were important considerations for implementation. The key advantage of using ADC batch number reports is the ability to upload as a single monthly batch without having to manually access individual patient records on the NIgD. It facilitates early identification of failed upload attempts and supports resolution of stock discrepancies.

Режимно-правовое регулирование рассмотрения и утверждения бюджетов

Regime and legal regulation of the consideration and approval of budgets in the Russian Federation has undergone significant changes in recent years, and, at the moment, it can be characterized by a number of specific features. Firstly, after the approval of the draft law on the federal budget, such a document acquires the status of a normative legal act — a federal law for the federal budget and a normative legal act of a different level for budgets of other levels of the budget system of the Russian Federation, while it is limited to the next financial year and planning period. Secondly, the peculiarity of the process of reviewing and approving the budget is associated with the presence of the “zero reading”procedure, which does not have legislative regulation in the norms of Russian law, but since 2002 has been actively used in practice, and, in its essence, is an integral stage of the review process and approval of the budget not only of the federal budget, but also of other budgets of the budget system of the Russian Federation. In this regard, at the moment, the most relevant direction for improving the budgetary and legal regime for reviewing and approving the budget seems to be improving national legislation in terms of enshrining “zero reading” in the provisions of the Budget Code of the Russian Federation as an integral part of the process of reviewing and approving the budget. Thirdly, the regime-legal regulation of the consideration and approval of budgets involves the establishment of general rules for approving a draft law in a stable situation, as well as the establishment of special rules if it is impossible to apply the traditional procedure for approving a draft budget law. The purpose of such a special budgetary and legal regime is to ensure stability and continuity of the budgetary process, regardless of internal or external factors, until a regulatory legal act of the appropriate level is adopted.

Businiss Analytic Techniques of Apparels Industries and its impact on Global Business

The present study deals with “Business analytic techniques and its impact of global business in apparels industries.” The sale products and financial performance of Raymond industries application of tools and techniques of tools and cost management differ on 2021-22 and 2022-23. Results was that Raymond apparels industries application of tools and technique of cost management 2021-22 and 2022-23 net profit 77.76%, 7.76% on Indian market and 16.09% on Global market. The annual reports Raymond apparels industries in multiple products is very high as compared to single product. Application of tools and techniques of cost management 43.15 on 2022-23 financial years.

Association of Socioeconomic Status and Reasons for Companion Animal Relinquishment.

It is important to understand the reasons for companion animal relinquishment to help reduce the financial and ethical problems arising from too many dogs and cats in shelters. This study investigates the socioeconomic factors and reasons behind companion animal relinquishment in Australia, utilizing data from five animal shelters, over a five-year period (Financial Year 2018/19 to 2022/23). Descriptive statistics reveal that the median Index of Relative Socio-Economic Advantage and Disadvantage (IRSAD) decile of companion animal guardians who relinquished their companion animal was decile 4 out of 10, indicating that they live in areas of lower-than-average socioeconomic status. Cats accounted for 59.4% and dogs for 40.6% of all relinquishments, with more relinquishments from lower socioeconomic deciles (1-5) (cats: 62.6%, dogs: 65.8%). The median age of relinquished cats was 5 months and dogs 16 months, with human factor-related issues (e.g., Housing, Financial Constraints, Human Healthcare) cited in 86% of cases. Descriptive analysis for the five financial years shows a declining trend in numbers of relinquishments, with housing issues (31.2%) identified as the primary reason, followed by ownership decisions (16.2%), financial constraints (11.2%), and human health issues (10.4%). Comparing the reasons for relinquishment between lower (decile 1-5) and higher (decile 6-10) socioeconomic status demonstrated that financial difficulties were a more common reason in lower vs. higher socioeconomic groups, while human health and family-related issues are more common in higher vs. lower socioeconomic groups. These findings highlight the critical role of socioeconomic factors in understanding why people relinquish their companion animals, which can inform targeted interventions to support companion animal welfare across different socioeconomic backgrounds.

Analisis Fraud Pentagon terhadap Kecurangan Laporan Keuangan (Studi Empiris pada Perusahaan yang terdaftar di Bursa Efek Indonesia pada Tahun 2011-2020)

This research aims to detect fraudulent financial reports using the fraud pentagon. The research uses elements in the form of financial targets, financial instability, number of independent commissioners, special party receivable transactions, special party debt transactions, special party sales transactions, special party purchase transactions, change of auditors, change of directors, and number of CEO photos. The sample in this research is 108 companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange for the 2011-2020 period which were selected using a purposive sampling method. The sample companies in this study consisted of 54 fraud companies and 54 non-fraud companies. In testing the hypothesis using logistic regression analysis using the SPSS test tool. The results of this research show that financial targets and financial instability are not the driving factors for management to commit financial statement fraud, receivables transactions with privileged parties are a driving factor for fraud, but this is not the case for debt, sales and purchase transactions with privileged parties. Likewise, changing auditors in a particular financial year is also a driving factor for fraud, but not changing directors. Finally, the number of directors' photos in the annual report is not a driving factor in financial statement fraud.

A cost-consequence analysis of the Queensland specialist palliative rural telehealth (SPaRTa) service

Background Telehealth can extend the reach of specialist palliative care providers to ensure that patients can access specialist services closer to home. Aim To examine the cost and consequences of the Specialist Palliative Rural Telehealth (SPaRTa) service compared to the traditional non-specialist general practice-based services for people requiring palliative care. Design The costs and outcomes for SPaRTa were compared using cost-consequence analysis principles, with a focus on net benefit and return on investment. Costs were estimated from the perspective of the health service provider for the 2020/2021 financial year, and cost-offsets associated with change in location of death and change in hospital transfers. Setting/participants Patients of the SPaRTa in Queensland Australia. Results During study period 5472 consultations were conducted from four major metropolitan hub sites to regional, rural, and remote areas at a total cost of $4 426 644. When remuneration for consultations, change to location of death and reduction in ambulance transfers were taken into account, the net-benefit to the state health system was $1 244 060, giving a return on investment of $1.28 for every dollar spent. SPaRTa complimented existing local care services, and enabled access to specialist care into the home. Conclusions SPaRTa resulted in potential cost savings for the health service by enabling more convenient access to palliative care services outside of hospital settings. Decisions regarding funding for telepalliative care should consider not only the costs, but also the potential benefits to both the service providers, and the patients and families receiving this care.

Out-of-Pocket Expenditures for Health: A Case Study

Background of the Study: Health is a prime component in rural population who uses their muscle power for doing economic activities. Meanwhile according to the Economic Survey of India’s 2021 report, India was among the 10 worst performing countries in terms of prioritising health in government budgets, at both state and central levels. India was placed or ranked in 67th in the list of 189 countries in Out of Pocket Expenditure per capita in PPP (in $) for 2018. World Health Organisation report (March 2022) stated that high of Out-Of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) on health is impoverishing some 55 million Indians annually, with over 17 per cent households incurring catastrophic levels of health expenditures every year. The Economic Survey 2023 reported that the share of government expenditure in Total Health Expenditure (THE) has increased over time from 28.6% in financial year 2014 to 40.6% in Financial Year2019. However, OOPE is still higher at 48.2% of the total expenditure. Objectives: To explore the Out of Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) for health in India, Interstate and rural villages of Theni district, Tamil Nadu Methodology: Purposive non random sampling was used to reach the sample element. Sample elements or respondents were from rural Theni District. Sample size was 300. Data was collected using an interview schedule in the catchment area of Primary Health Centre, taluk hospital and district healthcare hospital. Interview was conducted in Tamil and then the interview output was transcribed and translated into English, followed by a descriptive analysis. Ordinary Least Square estimation was used to find the implications of individual income on pocket out expenditure for health. Findings of the Study: The secondary data from the website of World Health Organisation and from the reports of National Health Accounts reflects a difference in data information for every concerned period at least two to three per cent exist. The interstate data information for the period 2019 to 2020 revealed that the spending from government health care expenditure and out of pocket expenditure is not equal to total health care expenditure. Hence, the researcher made an attempt to explore the out of pocket expenditure among the rural population and their willingness to spend from their pocket. Furthermore, the impact of annual income and annual healthcare expenditure is examined by simple linear regression analysis, for to understand the role of income in shaping healthcare spending behaviour. The R Square value is very poor, and reflects the role of explanatory variable income is not impacting the out of pocket health care expenditure. The Keynesian theory of psychological law of consumption is invalid in out of pocket healthcare expenditure with respect to income of the respondents. 13 percentages of respondents were willing to do out of pocket expenditure for their health ailing. The 39.7percentages of respondents were disagreeing to do out of pocket expenditure for their health. Conclusion: Overall, this study emphasizes the importance of understanding out-of-pocket health expenditures is increasing in rural (feckless management of public healthcare) with attitude of unwilling to pay from their pocket because of existing zero priced healthcare system, which is available in their near locality. Policy makers needs to concentrate on enhancing the healthcare supply such as medical personals, drugs, lab facility, beds, and in general in all aspects for to cater the demand of rural inhabitants and protect them from pushing into impoverishment.

Corporate Environmental Reporting: Do Firms Operating in Environmentally Sensitive Sectors Disclose Enough?

Corporate environmental disclosure has been increasing steadily as it is an essential factor for sustainable development. However, this factor seems to be insufficientl recognised within the Nigerian corporate world. The objective of this study is to assess the level of corporate sustainability disclosures in environmentally sensitive industries in Nigeria. This study is based on secondary data obtained from annual reports of firms listed on the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX). Data used were collected from 45 sampled companies listed under 6 environmentally sensitive sectors for the 2021 financial year. Content analysis was applied to measure the level of environmental disclosures. The Environmental Disclosure Index (EDI) was prepared based on the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards. This research used independent sample t-test, analysis of variance, and the Kruskal-Wallis test as techniques of analysis. There were statistically significant differences in firms’ disclosure levels based on environmental certifications. The agriculture industry made the highest environmental disclosure, whereas the companies in the natural resources industry disclosed the least. It was found that companies revealed maximum information on their energy and environmental compliance initiatives, while there was inadequate information in other areas of environmental disclosure, such as supplier environmental assessment, effluents and wastes, and materials. The study provides implications for the strict adoption of a systematic reporting framework, especially for environmentally sensitive firms, while offering insights to guide policymakers, regulatory bodies, industry associations, and businesses in Nigeria to promote transparency and responsible environmental reporting.

The Role of Corporate Governance in Shaping IFR Practices of Listed Companies in Sri Lanka

Objective – This study investigates the relationship between corporate governance characteristics and Internet Financial Reporting (IFR) in the context of listed companies in the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE).Design/Methodology – The key metrics for assessing corporate governance characteristics include board size, independence, CEO duality, women in the board, audit committee independence, and ownership concentration. These data were derived from the published annual reports. Employing content analysis, the study measures IFR disclosure using secondary data from the published annual reports of 201 listed companies in Sri Lanka.Results – The mean value of listed companies' IFR disclosure is 50.66% in Sri Lanka. Regression results show that audit committee independence and ownership concentration significantly impact the IFR. However, no statistical evidence supports other variables' significant impact on IFR.Research limitations/implications – This study relies upon only 201 listed firms’ data for a financial year in Sri Lanka and the statistical model includes only five corporate governance-related variables. The study's findings contribute to the reform of corporate governance practices, corporate governance literature, and information asymmetry theory. Moreover, results have practical implications for the composition of the board and audit committee.Novelty/Originality – This study contributes to the existing literature and lays the groundwork for future research by providing new insights into the adoption of IFR practices in Sri Lanka and other similar nations. Examining the impact of corporate governance on IFR practices in listed firms within a developing country sheds light on the significance of corporate governance and IFR.