Generalized Method Of Moments Research Articles

Financial reporting quality dynamics in India: the role of IFRS convergence and corporate governance

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the impact of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) convergence on value relevance and earnings management for Indian listed firms while also exploring whether the relationship is moderated by the firms’ corporate governance structures. Design/methodology/approach Corporate governance (CG) scores of 573 listed firms were calculated by using a self-constructed index for a period of 7 years (2014–2015 to 2020–2021). Static and dynamic panel models with generalized method of moments (GMM) estimators were used to test the conditional hypothesis that the impact of the Indian IFRS converged standards (Indian Accounting Standards [IndAS]) on information quality is affected by the firm’s corporate governance strength. Findings The estimates reveal that the positive effect of corporate governance scores on the value relevance of earnings reduces in the presence of IFRS, whereas the interaction of both the variables on book values remains insignificant. Secondly, the use of IndAS reduces discretionary accruals, but corporate governance does not have a significant moderating effect within the equation. Practical implications The results offer an interesting perspective into the debate on IFRS consequences and the role of internal institutional frameworks. It provides preliminary evidence suggesting that although corporate governance improves the value relevance of earnings, it may not be entirely effective in reducing the management of earnings. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, it is the first study in India to provide empirical findings on the role played by corporate governance mechanisms in explaining the relationship between IFRS convergence and accounting information quality. The analysis accounts for modelling issues such as endogeneity and autocorrelation by using dynamic panel models and instrumental variables.

Decomposing scale, technique and composition effects of foreign direct investment on environmental quality.

This study aimed to investigate how the decomposing scale effect, technique effect and composition effect of foreign direct investment (FDI) impact on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions for 115 nations spanning 1999 to 2019 by employing Generalised Method of Moments (GMM) model. The results indicated that FDI, real GDP per capita, capital-labor ratio, institutional quality and urbanization increase CO2 emissions while the square of real GDP per capita and trade openness contributed to reducing CO2 emissions. Also, our findings fail to support Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) theory. The outcomes of this research illustrated that scale effect dominates composition effect and followed by technique effect. The interaction effect of FDI and technique effect has the least influence on CO2 levels in reducing the harmful effects of FDI on CO2. Furthermore, it should be highlighted that although FDI increases CO2 emissions, its detrimental impact on CO2 emissions is moderately mitigated by its interactions with three economic mechanisms. Therefore, it is necessary to enhance the technical processes of production as well as the development of modern technologies. We recommended that policymakers balance sustainable economic development with environmental sustainability by considering the indirect effects of factors on CO2 emissions.

The scale effects of agricultural credits, institutional governance and microfinance sustainability in Sub-Saharan African countries

PurposeThe study examines the synthesized influences of institutional governance and the scale effects of agricultural credits on the sustainability of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Sub-Saharan Africa.Design/methodology/approachUsing a sample of 840 MFIs (300 independent and 540 networked), the study applied Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) and Lewbel’s estimator.FindingsResults indicate positive effects of financial structure, efficiency and agricultural credit scale on sustainability, with a non-linear U-shaped relationship between agricultural credit size and microfinance sustainability. Depending on institutional governance quality, a threshold is identified where agricultural credit scale significantly enhances the quality of Portfolio at Risk (lnPAR) in independent MFIs and Returns on Assets (lnROA) in networked MFIs.Research limitations/implicationsStudy suggests strengthening governance for transparency and operating within optimal size for enduring sustainable performance. While focused on Sub-Saharan Africa, future research could expand to various economies or introduce additional variables for a comprehensive analysis.Practical implicationsMFIs can achieve sustainability by implementing management guided by better institutional norms, innovative financial transformations better suited to financing agricultural activities and techniques and an organizational structure more aligned with their performance targets.Social implicationsBroader and more reliable access to financial services, particularly in the agricultural sector, can stimulate production and alleviate poverty.Originality/valueThe study’s originality lies in its contribution to the literature by examining the role of institutional governance in microfinance institution performance and evaluating microfinance in a broader Sub-Saharan African context, proposing threshold limits where agricultural microcredit compromises performance.

Energy poverty and developments in finance, economic complexity and economic conditions

Purpose Energy poverty presents substantial challenges for both developed and developing nations, with the latter experiencing more pronounced adverse effects due to issues related to the provision and equitable access of energy resources. This study aims to provide a deep understanding of how financial development, economic complexity and government expenditures can impact energy poverty. Design/methodology/approach This research employs generalized method of moments (GMM) estimation on panel data to investigate the economic determinants of energy poverty in 31 developing countries from 2000 to 2020. For a comprehensive analysis, the proxies for energy poverty include access to electricity, access to clean fuels and energy consumption. Findings The findings suggest that while financial development cannot facilitate access to clean fuels in developing countries, it contributes to an increase in energy access and consumption. Another finding is that energy poverty can be alleviated by enhancing economic complexity since economic complexity can result in increased access to electricity and increased use of clean energy sources. Furthermore, the results underscore the pivotal role of government expenditures, surpassing the influence of financial development. In other words, government expenditures have the potential to significantly improve energy poverty across all three indices. Originality/value This is a pioneering research that seeks to examine some economic dynamics including, financial development and economic complexity on energy poverty and provide valuable guidance for policymakers aiming to promote sustainable energy development with respect to economic dynamics.

Does the balance matter? The gender within government and municipal indebtedness

PurposeIt was to investigate whether gender diversity – gender balance – within political municipal government teams affected the municipal indebtedness. Government ideology, the gender of the mayor and the wealth of the municipal environment were considered as moderators.Design/methodology/approachWe used GMM estimators on two dynamic models and a sample of 144 Spanish municipalities with more than 50,000 inhabitants for the period 2013–2022.FindingsGender diversity within government teams reduces the municipal debt. Furthermore, the government right-wing ideology and the female gender of the mayor are robust moderators of the effects of the gender diversity within government teams on institutional indebtedness.Research limitations/implicationsThe differences in financial autonomy and powers to apply public policies by municipalities in the different countries, as well as some differential aspects within the right-wing ideological spectrum, may condition our findings. Within relational demography, gender diversity impacts municipal performance, opening the way to explore other relations in future research.Practical implicationsThe tendency to implement legislation to try to achieve high gender balances within political decision-making bodies generates higher gender diversity, and our research shows that it leads to a better financial performance, a matter of transcendental importance for EU, credit rating agencies, and lenders.Originality/valueThis study provides new knowledge about the effect of gender within political decision-making bodies on municipal budgetary management. It is the first research analysing the impact of gender balance in the strict sense within decision-making bodies on municipal indebtedness.

Assessing the Impact of Financial Technology Innovations on the Sustainable Profitability of Listed Commercial Banks in China

Commercial banks constitute a crucial segment of China’s financial system, and their efficient operation is directly linked to the development of other sectors within the national economy. The sustainable profitability of these banks is vital for maintaining the stability of China’s financial system. In the context of the current digital economy, it is of great theoretical and practical significance to conduct an in-depth analysis of the impact of financial technology (fintech) development on the sustainable profitability of commercial banks and its underlying mechanisms. Such research can promote the digital transformation of commercial banks, enhance risk supervision policies, and mitigate systemic financial risks. This study utilizes EViews software Version 13 to analyze annual data from 13 listed commercial banks in China over the period from 2011 to 2021. It examines the influence of fintech on the profitability of these banks, considering their unique characteristics and drawing insights from the existing literature on the mechanisms through which fintech affects bank profitability. Employing both a static panel fixed effects variable-intercept model and a dynamic panel generalized method of moments (GMM) model, the empirical findings indicate that fintech development significantly impacts the profitability of listed commercial banks.

A Bayesian semi-parametric scalar-on-function regression with measurement error using instrumental variables.

Wearable devices such as the ActiGraph are now commonly used in research to monitor or track physical activity. This trend corresponds with the growing need to assess the relationships between physical activity and health outcomes, such as obesity, accurately. Device-based physical activity measures are best treated as functions when assessing their associations with scalar-valued outcomes such as body mass index. Scalar-on-function regression (SoFR) is a suitable regression model in this setting. Most estimation approaches in SoFR assume that the measurement error in functional covariates is white noise. Violating this assumption can lead to underestimating model parameters. There are limited approaches to correcting measurement errors for frequentist methods and none for Bayesian methods in this area. We present a non-parametric Bayesian measurement error-corrected SoFR model that relaxes all the constraining assumptions often involved with these models. Our estimation relies on an instrumental variable allowing a time-varying biasing factor, a significant departure from the current generalized method of moment (GMM) approach. Our proposed method also permits model-based grouping of the functional covariate following measurement error correction. This grouping of the measurement error-corrected functional covariate allows additional ease of interpretation of how the different groups differ. Our method is easy to implement, and we demonstrate its finite sample properties in extensive simulations. Finally, we applied our method to data from the National Health and Examination Survey to assess the relationship between wearable device-based measures of physical activity and body mass index in adults in the United States.

Spatio-temporal investigation of economic growth and environmental quality nexus in EU countries: New guidelines regarding green goods and eco-tax.

The issue of environmental degradation has become pertinent and the call for carbon neutrality has intensified in recent years. Achieving this target will require countries to meet the conditions of the sustainable development goals. To do this, the study applied spatiotemporal modelling and the generalized method of moments (GMM) to examine the nexus between economic growth (EG) and the load capacity factor (LCF) through environmental goods (ENG) and environmental tax (ENT) among European Union (EU) nations from 1995 to 2018. The findings demonstrate that spatial dependence leads to a change in EG and LCF that impacts the EG and LCF of the neighbouring countries. The study also found that there is a significant positive and bidirectional relationship between economic growth and load capacity factor. Moreover, the study revealed that a positive effect of ENG, ENT, REN and Human Capital Index (HCI) on EG, with a reducing effect from natural resource rents (NRR). Finally, HCI improves environmental quality, while ENG, ENT, REN and NRR degrade the environment. Our findings justify the need for EU countries and other developed nations to implement policies that will help achieve a green economic transformation.

The role of female directors in family firms’ annual report´s readability

PurposeThis paper investigates the impact of board gender diversity on the readability of the annual reports of family-controlled public companies.Design/methodology/approachGrounded in the premises of the restricted and extended views of the socioemotional wealth (SEW) approach and executive power theory, this paper explores the ways in which family-affiliated female directors influence report readability in a sample of 133 publicly traded US companies listed in the Fortune 1,000. We use the system GMM estimator, which deals with two key sources of endogeneity by controlling first for reverse causality, using the lags of the endogenous variables as instruments, and then for omitted variables, capturing the individual effect.FindingsOur analysis confirms that the significant enhancement in annual report readability is associated with the presence of female family directors, particularly those who are insiders within the company. In contrast, non-family female directors and family outsider directors appear to have a negative impact on annual report readability.Originality/valueWhile scholars have increasingly focused on variations in annual report readability among family firms, the contribution of female directors to this phenomenon has received minimal attention. In our study, we integrate the theories of restricted and extended SEW perspectives with the theory of women’s executive power within the board. This integration is essential for considering two critical factors: firstly, the primacy of their SEW objectives, and, secondly, their legitimacy within the board.

Ownership Structure and Financial Reporting Quality of Listed Non Financial Firms in Nigerian: The Moderating Role of Audit Committee

The aim of this study is to evaluate the moderating role of audit committee on the relationship between ownership structure and financial reporting quality of listed non-financial firms in Nigeria. The study used annual reports from 41 listed non-financial firms in Nigeria between 2010 to 2021 period. The study used causal research design approach. The analysis was done using descriptive statistics and multiple regression technique using Generalised Method of Moment (GMM). The findings of the study show that there is significant relationship between ownership structure and financial reporting quality and audit committee can effectively moderate their relationship. The study therefore, rejects all the null hypotheses formulated. The implications of the study are that regulators and policy makers, may encourage more shareholders representation in audit committee of listed companies and mandate financial expertise to all audit committee members. The study concludes that presence of institutional, managerial and foreign ownerships as well as sound audit committee are important for improving firms' financial reporting quality. The study therefore, recommends that in order to enhance the reporting quality, management of listed non-financial firms in Nigeria should ensure that they have effective and functional audit committee. The ownership structure should also be strengthened in order to assist in improving financial reporting quality and also improve relevance and reliability of annual reports and make it easier for the stakeholders to make appropriate decisions relevant to their needs.

Cross-border banking and bank stability: evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa

AbstractBased on bank-level data from 29 Sub-Saharan African countries between 2005 and 2019, we apply panel fixed effects (FE) and two-step system GMM estimators to investigate whether increased cross-border banking affects domestic banking sector stability. We find significant evidence that the stability of banks in host countries declines with an increased presence of foreign banks—and the impact is more pronounced on banks that are small and less efficient. The stability impact of foreign banks is also found to depend on the quality of governance institutional factors in the host country. The findings shed some important insights on the downside of financial liberalisation policy in developing countries and the need for increased cross-border collaboration between home and host supervisory authorities in the SSA region—especially in jurisdictions where the foreign bank affiliates are systemically important. The domestic supervisory authorities thus need to effectively manage the inherent trade-off between reaping the benefits from international financial integration while effectively safeguarding domestic banking systems against cross-border contagion and fragility.

How does family business affect the association between corporate social responsibility disclosure and cost of debt in Indonesia?

AbstractThis study examines how corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure and family firms affect the cost of debt (COD) using a sample of companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange between 2017 and 2020. Ordinary least square regression was applied to investigate this association. This study also addresses the endogeneity problem using the generalized method of moments (GMM). This study finds that CSR lowers a company's COD. Firms with more CSR reporting minimize information asymmetry and improve their reputation. Next, we investigate whether family ownership can moderate the relationship between CSR and the COD. These findings support the hypothesis that family ownership moderates the relationship between CSR and COD. It is possible that family businesses use CSR to maintain a good reputation among their stakeholders, thus producing more CSR reports. The findings contribute to the literature by providing empirical evidence on how CSR and family firms experience a lower COD capital in the emerging economy context of Indonesia. Furthermore, this study provides academic implications by investigating whether family ownership can be a moderator variable in the association between CSR and COD. The study also has practical implications for practitioners and regulators in creating policies that promote better CSR initiatives and corporate governance systems.

Climate Change-Trade Openness- Financial Depth Index-Economic Growth Nexus: A Study of G-20

This study examines the impact of climate change, which is seen as an environmental problem but has the power to affect the economic and financial structure, of trade openness, economic growth, and depth of financial markets in G-20 countries between 1980 and 2020. It has been concluded that the variables can be used as a policy tool in this context, where the development of trade openness and financial depth in the G-20 countries, which account for 80% of global trade, has the effect of reducing climate change by creating environmentally friendly economic growth. Panel Var and Holtz-Eakin, Newey, and Rosen GMM Estimator method were used in the study. In addition, it has been determined that action-response functions have an effect on the variables in the face of a shock to the carbon dioxide emission variable.

Modeling Determinants of Profitability in Ethiopia Manufacturing Companies: A Dynamic Panel Model Approach

Background: Profitability is the primary measure of the overall success of company. The analysis of profitability ratios is important for the shareholders, creditors, prospective investors, manufacturers and government alike. Objective: The objective of this study was fitted a dynamic panel regression model that efficiently fit the data and further to identify the determinants contributing significantly to profitability in Ethiopia. Methods: This study was conducted on secondary data of 32 sample manufacturing companies collected from the audited financial statements of large tax payers’ office and national bank of Ethiopia. The study was covered a period of seven years from 2011 to 2017. The panel unit root test of Levin-Lin-Chu tests was made for each variable and applied first difference transformation for the variables that had unit root. A dynamic panel regression model was utilized for data handling technique using generalized method of moments (GMM) estimation. Results: We compared the results when one unit increase in lagged profitability, managerial efficiency, capital intensity, GDP, exchange rate and one ratio decrease in leverage, ceteris paribus, turn out were found to increase the profitability of manufacturing companies by around 0.69, 0.179, 4.52E-06, 3.844, 0.04 and 0.393 ratio, respectively. The model reveled that previous profitability, leverage, capital intensity, managerial efficiency, GDP and exchange rate had a statistically significant (P<0.05) effect on companies’ profitability in Ethiopia. Conclusion: As per our findings, the manufacturing companies should minimize leverage financing from its capitals and should emphasize the management of appropriate financing to increase profitability. Finally, we recommended that policy makers should coming up with better policies on improvement of profitability.

Green finance and renewable energy growth in developing nations: A GMM analysis

This research aims to examine the interrelationship between green finance and its influence on the renewable energy industry in a sample of 30 developing nations from 1990 to 2018. The main aim of this study is to investigate the interconnected effects between green bonds, investments in renewable energy, and carbon markets, with a specific emphasis on the influence of the banking system in shaping these interrelationships. To accomplish this objective, the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) is utilized to examine the data and comprehend the intricate interrelationships among the variables. The emergence of green finance offers a favourable prospect for tackling environmental issues while concurrently fostering sustainable economic development. Nevertheless, the degree to which it impacts the adoption of renewable energy and carbon markets has yet to be thoroughly investigated, especially in developing nations. This study seeks to provide insights into the factors that influence the development of green finance and its implications for investments in renewable energy by examining a diverse group of 30 emerging countries. The findings of this research provide compelling revelations regarding the interdependence between green finance and its influence on the renewable energy industry. The results underscore the notable contribution of the banking sector in enabling the transfer of capital into sustainable energy initiatives via the utilization of green bonds. Furthermore, we have discovered dynamic spillover effects between green bonds, renewable energy investments, and carbon markets. These financial mechanisms have the potential to influence each other within the framework of sustainable development. A comprehensive comprehension of the complex interconnections among green finance, renewable energy, and carbon markets is imperative for policymakers, investors, and financial institutions seeking to promote sustainable practices and efficiently allocate resources. This research adds to the expanding corpus of literature on green finance and offers significant implications for advancing a more environmentally friendly and sustainable future in developing nations.

THE EFFECTS OF SOCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS ON STUNTING PREVALENCE RATES IN INDONESIA

Background: Social assistance, such as Non-Cash Food Assistance (BPNT) and the Family Hope Program (PKH), is among the instruments used to eradicate stunting in the short and long term. Therefore, it is important to ensure that individuals effectively use it. Aims: This study aimed to review the effect of social assistance on stunting prevalence rates in Indonesia. Methods: This research employs a quantitative approach, utilizing numerical measurements and statistical analysis. The data is secondary and sourced from the Central Bureau of Statistics and the Ministry of Finance. The specific method applied is the generalized method of moments (GMM) dynamic panel regression. The research sample encompasses panel data from 34 provinces from 2015 to 2021. This study utilizes the indicator of very short height for children less than five years of age as a proxy for stunting. Furthermore, low height in children is adopted as a measure of stunting. Furthermore, this study adopted a measure of low height in children to indicate stunting. Results: The results showed that social assistance negatively affected stunting, supported by various other indicators such as the proportion of proper sanitation, the average length of schooling, protein consumption, and drinking water sources. Meanwhile, excessive calorie consumption increases stunting in a certain period. Conclusion: In this condition, government social assistance was urgently needed since access to the lowest decile households increased stunting rates. The practical implications for policy derived from these findings involve optimizing the efficiency of social assistance initiatives, emphasizing the significance of addressing environmental factors in programs aimed at preventing stunting, integrating health and nutrition initiatives, and implementing educational campaigns within communities to raise awareness about calorie consumption. Keywords: child health, social assistance, stunting, toddlers

Financial inclusion, competition and financial stability: New evidence from developing economies

This study utilizes cross-country data from 2002 to 2019 from 60 selected developing countries to explore the impact of competition and financial inclusion on financial stability. Employing the system GMM estimator, compelling evidence is revealed, highlighting a number of key findings. Firstly, it is observed that financial inclusion has a weakening effect on financial stability within developing countries. Conversely, competition among these nations demonstrates a significant capacity to bolster financial stability. Additionally, the study underscores the pivotal role of financial development, identifying it as a primary driver that enables financial inclusion to positively influence financial stability within developing nations. Furthermore, the introduction of the square term of financial inclusion yields noteworthy insights, revealing a nonlinear relationship. Specifically, the findings suggest that strategic investments in the financial inclusion of developing countries have the potential to enhance financial stability up to a certain threshold. Therefore, for emerging economies seeking to fortify their financial stability, prioritizing efforts to augment financial inclusion is imperative. Over the long term, such endeavors have the potential to yield tangible improvements in financial stability.In conclusion, the research offers valuable policy implications. These include recommendations aimed at fostering greater financial inclusion within developing economies as a means of bolstering overall financial stability. By heeding these suggestions and implementing targeted policies, policymakers can work towards cultivating a more resilient and robust financial landscape within their respective nations.

Shadow Economy: Determinants and Its Impact on Foreign Direct Investment

The shadow economy poses a significant threat to government revenue and the effectiveness of economic policies. This paper investigates the causes of the shadow economy and its influence on foreign direct investment (FDI). Our study employs the currency demand approach, a component of the indirect method, to identify the determinants of the shadow economy in a dataset covering 105 countries from 2001 to 2017. These countries are categorized into four income groups: high-income, upper-middle-income, lower-middle-income, and low-income. Parameter estimation is conducted using the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) model, with robustness tests incorporating reference estimates from Partial Least Squares (PLS) and Fixed Effects Model (FEM). Our findings indicate that a higher GDP and lower interest rates are associated with reduced shadow economy activity. Elevated market interest rates increase the cost of funds in the informal sector, discouraging engagement in shadow economic activities due to reduced profitability. Furthermore, higher tax revenues correlate with intensified regulatory enforcement, increasing the risks associated with shadow economy involvement. A larger workforce and lower unemployment rates similarly diminish shadow economy activity. In the context of foreign direct investment (FDI), the shadow economy positively affects FDI flows when formal institutions, including legal frameworks, property rights protection, and regulatory systems, are either weak or overly burdensome. In such scenarios, economic actors may opt for informal channels like the shadow economy, offering a flexible and cost-effective alternative to the formal sector, a crucial consideration for foreign investors.

Dynamic panel data analysis of the impact of governance on bank capital structure in Indonesia

The banking industry plays a crucial role in driving the Indonesian economy. Therefore, any financial upheaval within this sector would have a significant influence on the overall economy. Hence, this study examines the capital composition of banking institutions in Indonesia to assess the financial soundness of the banks. A bank’s susceptibility to default will adversely affect client confidence in the bank. This study investigates the influence of governance attributes, such as board size, board meeting frequency, risk committee presence, institutional ownership, and independent committee existence, on the capital structure of Indonesian banks. 31 samples were intentionally chosen using purposeful sampling. Data estimation was performed using a two-step Arellano-Bond Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) estimator. The findings suggest that the bank risk committee, institutional ownership, and independent committee exert a notable and favorable influence on the capital structure of banks in Indonesia. Nevertheless, the size of the board and the frequency of board meetings do not exert a substantial impact. The size of the board and the use of leverage have no substantial impact. Developing efficient corporate governance procedures is essential for ensuring the bank’s financial stability. This involves maximizing the effectiveness of the risk committee, institutional ownership, and independent committee. AcknowledgmentThis paper is funded by PPM-PTM Grants of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology of 2023 (03/SP2H/RT-MONO/LL4/2023).

External Debt and Economic Growth Nexus in Sub-Saharan Africa: the Role of Institutional Quality

Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries have recently embarked on an economic growth trajectory which is characterized by ambitious national development aspirations. The ability of the SSA economies to generate sufficient domestic revenues to spur their desired economic growth is limited resulting into fiscal deficits. External Debt has provided alternatives to the fiscal deficits prevalent in SSA economies. Dividends from external debt investments have been unevenly witnessed among the SSA countries. Regions with better institutional quality continue to reap considerable dividends from external debt investments while SSA economies continue to accumulate external debt with sluggish economic performance. This study made use of the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) to examine the role played by institutional quality on the nexus between external debt and economic growth on a panel of 28 SSA countries over the period 2005 - 2021. Empirical results indicate that institutional quality influences a positive and significant relation between external debt and economic growth. Policy makers in SSA countries should therefore strive to improve on institutional quality in regard to external debt management in order to reap more economic benefits from external debt