Generalized Method Of Moments Research Articles

Remittance inflows and financial development in Sub-Saharan African countries: Does governance matter?

BackgroundThe surge in remittances in most sub-Saharan African countries motivated this study to establish whether remittance inflows enhance financial development and whether governance plays any significant mediating role in the nexus between financial development and remittance inflows. PurposeThe study examines the impact of remittance inflows on bank-based financial development in 26 sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries using three proxies of bank-based financial development. The study also examines whether government regulatory quality and effectiveness modulate the impact of remittance on bank-based financial development. MethodThe generalised method of moments (GMM) estimation technique is used to examine this linkage. ResultsThe results show that when financial development is proxied by liquid liabilities and bank deposits, remittance inflow is found to have an unconditional positive impact on bank-based financial development, while governance is found to reinforce the positive relationship between remittance and financial development. However, when financial development is proxied by deposit money bank assets, remittance is found to have no profound effect on bank-based financial development, but it was found to interact with government effectiveness to yield a positive influence on financial development. ConclusionOverall, remittance inflows were found to have an overwhelming positive impact on the banking sector development. It was also found that good governance generally tends to reinforce the positive impact of remittances on banking sector development. NoveltyThis study adds value to the extant literature by providing answers to the role that governance plays in enhancing the impact of remittances on financial development in sub-Saharan African countries.

Insurer’s Risk-Taking Behavior in India: Does Board Matter?

This study investigates the board’s role in shaping insurers’ risk-taking using data of 49 Indian insurance firms from 2014 to 2021. We captured the insurer’s risk using four proxy measures: underwriting, investment, insolvency and total risks. To address potential endogeneity concerns in the relationship with board attributes, we employ a two-step Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) approach. Robustness checks are conducted using the panel quantile estimation approach. The empirical analysis reveals that life insurers face greater underwriting risk than non-life insurers. A larger board with duality appears to mitigate insurers’ risk, particularly in the case of life insurers. The presence of independent directors on insurer boards, along with an optimal frequency of board meetings, effectively mitigates risk among Indian insurers. The study concludes that dual regulations erode regulatory discipline among public insurers, leading to an inadequate governance structure.

Determinants of Islamic bank stability in Asia

Purpose This study aims to analyze the factors that influenced the stability of Islamic banks in Asia. Design/methodology/approach The panel data consisted of 16 Asian countries operating Islamic banks from 2010 to 2019. The data were analyzed through dynamic panel regression using Arellano–Bond generalized method of moments (GMM). Findings This study provides novel insights into the factors influencing the stability of Islamic banks in Asia. The findings suggest that past financial stability, liquidity risk, loan risk, inflation, gross domestic product, government effectiveness, rule of law and control of corruption are all significant contributors to Islamic bank stability. Notably, political stability, voice and accountability and regulatory quality did not show a significant association. Research limitations/implications The current study’s focus was solely on Islamic bank stability in Asian countries, which leaves room for further exploration. Future research could benefit from expanding the scope to encompass all nations with active Islamic banking institutions. In addition, incorporating a broader range of macroeconomic variables, such as exchange rates, interest rates, profit-sharing equivalents and investment rates, could provide deeper insights into the factors influencing Islamic bank stability across diverse contexts. Practical implications This study has significant practical implications for policymakers, bank managers and regulatory authorities seeking to enhance the stability of Islamic banks in Asia. By implementing robust risk management frameworks, adopting prudent regulatory policies, and actively fostering economic growth, policymakers can create an environment conducive to the sustained development and prosperity of Islamic banking institutions. Notably, promoting good governance practices and instituting effective crisis prevention measures can further bolster the resilience of the Islamic banking sector, enabling it to play a more dynamic role in contributing to the overall development and welfare of Asian societies. Social implications The findings of this study carry significant social implications, highlighting the need for governments in Asian countries to prioritize public policies that promote good governance and ethical practices within the banking industry. Such policies, coupled with efforts to attract foreign investments and foster a stable and transparent banking sector, have the potential to generate far-reaching positive effects on society. Through economic growth stimulated by a robust Islamic banking sector, Asian countries can create new employment opportunities, improve living standards and ultimately enhance the overall well-being of their citizens. Originality/value This study contributes to the ongoing discourse on Islamic banking stability by offering novel insights and expanding the empirical knowledge base in this field. The dual application of robust regression methodologies – namely, GMM dynamic panel data models – presents a unique analytical framework for investigating the complex interplay between diverse variables and Islamic bank stability. This methodological choice fosters deeper understanding of the dynamic relationships at play, advancing our understanding of how specific factors influence the sector's resilience and performance. In addition, the study uses rigorous empirical techniques and engages with the extant literature to provide fresh perspectives and nuanced interpretations of the findings, further solidifying its contribution to the field's originality and richness.

The moderating role of board diversity on the relationship between ownership structure and real earnings management

PurposeThis study aims to see the moderating effect of board diversity on the relationship between ownership structure and real earnings management.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses unbalanced panel data of 75 listed energy firms (346 firm-year observations) from three South Asian emerging economies (Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan) from 2015 to 2019. The two-step system GMM estimation is used for data analysis. This study also uses fixed effect regression to obtain robust findings.FindingsThe findings show that firms with a greater ownership concentration and managerial ownership significantly reduce real earnings management. In contrast, the data refute the idea that institutional and foreign ownership affect real earnings management. We also find that board diversity interacts significantly with ownership concentration and managerial ownership, meaning that board diversity moderates the negative link of the primary relationship that reduces real earnings management. On the other hand, board diversity has no interaction with institutional and foreign ownership, implying no moderating effect exists on the primary relationship.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is unique research investigating how different ownership structures affect real earnings management in the emerging nations’ energy sector, which the earlier studies overlook. More specifically, this research focuses on how board diversity moderates the relationships between ownership structure and real earnings management, which could be helpful for future investors.

ECONOMIC CONDITIONS OF THE DEMAND FOR INVESTMENT AND WORKING CAPITAL LOANS FOR MICRO-ENTERPRISES – RESEARCH FOR POLAND DURING COVID-19

Aim: The study aims to find an answer to the question of whether and how the economic indicators in the industrial processing, construction, trade, and services sectors reflect changes in the market size related to investments and working capital loans for micro-enterprises. Methods: The study used data on investment and working capital loans and data on economic conditions. Monthly data for the years 2019–2021, covering the period of the COVID-19 pandemic, were used for the analyses. The estimation of dynamic models was carried out using the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM). Results: The conducted research showed that economic factors play a significant role in shaping the demand for investment and working capital loans in the micro-enterprise sector, but the impact of the economic situation was more significant in the case of investment loans than working capital loans. In periods of economic prosperity, micro-enterprises are more likely to take out investment loans than in periods of economic downturn. Micro-enterprises’ propensity to take out working capital loans is more dependent on their current situation and expectations regarding the demand for products and services. Conclusions: The research revealed differences in the characteristics of the factors significantly influencing the demand for credit, depending on the sector to which the indicator is concerned. The research shows that access to external financing is crucial for the functioning, survival, and expansion of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises. The research fills the literature gap by showing how the economic situation in individual industries affects the credit market for the micro-enterprises sector.

Looking in the rear‐view mirror: Evidence from artificial intelligence investment, labour market conditions and firm growth

AbstractThis paper presents evidence of the impact of AI investment on firm growth and how the relationship is sensitive to labour market conditions. Using the generalized method of moments (GMM) estimation on 1950 unique American firms over 1996–2016, we show that a 10% increase in AI investment leads to an increase in firm growth by 0.04%. However, this result is highly sensitive to labour market conditions, as labour productivity can positively impact firm growth, but labour cost and labour share negatively influence firm growth. These results offer original insights into an essential channel via which investment in AI may mediate firm growth.

Effect of Electronic Fraud on the Financial Performance of Banks in Nigeria

The study investigated the effect of electronic fraud on the financial performance of banks in Nigeria. The specific objectives were to investigate the effect of electronic fraud through online web transactions, evaluate the effect of electronic fraud through automated teller machine, to determine the effect of fraud through point of sale machine, and to investigate the effect of fraud through mobile phone USSD transactions on the financial performance of selected deposit money banks in Nigeria. Panel Generalized method of moments (GMM) was used to analyze the panel series of the model. The Hausman test indicated the random effect model as most fit for the estimation. The major findings of the study revealed that fraud through the automated teller machine (AEF) has significant negative impact on the financial performance of the deposit money banks in Nigeria. The panel regression result also revealed that fraud through the mobile phone channel (MPEF), and fraud through the online banking channel (OBEF) had significant negative effect on the financial performance of the banks studied. The study concluded that electronic fraud has significant negative relationship with the performance of banks. The policy implication of these findings holds for both management of banks and the financial sector authorities to engineer strategic fraud mitigation technology to strengthen confidence in the financial system. Based on the findings, the study recommended that there is an urgent need for effective monitoring of bank fraud which will allow for the growth of Nigeria deposit banks performance. This is necessary especially this period that the world is going cashless and e payment instrument are used for cashless banking system. And failure to do that, will affect customer’s confidence in the industry. It is also recommended that Bank fraud shall be reduced through effective supervision and regulation of banks by the monetary authorities so that financial industry will contribute to the economy.

Development effects of industrialization, labor force participation and electrification on productive capacity in Africa: A panel data investigation

In our study spanning 2010–2022 across 50 African economies, we investigated the effects of industrialization, labor force participation, and electrification on Africa’s productive capacity. We also examined how electrification moderates the effect of industrialization and labor force participation on productive capacity. We adopted the pooled OLS, the fixed effect estimator, and the dynamic system GMM estimation technique for our analysis. Our findings indicate industrialization, labor force participation, and electrification as potent channels for enhancing Africa's productive capacity. In tandem with Africa’s reality, we find that electrification isn’t moderating the positive impact of industrialization and labor force participation on productivity. Our findings also revealed human capital development, government health expenditure, and institutional quality as pivotal drivers of productive capacity in Africa, while factors like global economic policy uncertainty and natural resource endowment exhibit predominantly negative roles. These results underscore the need for African policymakers and leaders to foster an enabling environment that facilitates industrialization, increased labor force participation, and improved electricity access to promote economic performance and productivity.

Towards sustainable management: Exploring the role of internal monitoring in pollution prevention.

Researchers in the field of sustainable management have recently dedicated significant efforts to understand why organizations exhibit diverse responses to environmental responsibilities. Ethical scholars assert that internal management plays a pivotal role in promoting sustainability because of its attitude toward sustainable issues. In alignment with this perspective, our study formulates a framework for internal monitoring that underscores the significance of independent, female, international, and politically connected directors. We investigate how these internal monitors influence a company's commitment to promote sustainable investments for pollution prevention. By employing fixed effect model and generalized method of moments (GMM) on a dataset obtained from the largest emerging market-China over the period 2012 to 2019, our findings indicate that the mentioned monitors demonstrate a stronger commitment to pollution prevention by promoting corporate sustainable investments. In addition, our analysis reveals that when the government withdraws its involvement in enterprises, it has a notable negative impact on the connection between internal monitors and a company's efforts in pollution prevention. Our results imply that implementation of sustainable policies for pollution prevention fundamentally result from not only internal management, but also from powerful stakeholders (like government involvement). Moreover, our study educates the policy makers regarding the social consequences of governmental withdrawal.

Digital infrastructure and innovation in Africa: Does human capital mediates the effect?

While both theory and empirical evidence have established the critical role of digital infrastructure in promoting innovation, there needs to be more understanding of factors mediating this nexus, especially from the African context, which is understudied. This paper argues that digital infrastructure spurs innovation, but the overall effect depends on countries’ level of human capital. Relying on data from 28 African countries spanning 2011–2019 and the system Generalized Method of Moment (GMM) estimator, this study departs from the extant literature by examining the synergistic effect of digital infrastructure and human capital on innovation while placing much emphasis on the multidimensional measurement approach of digital infrastructure. The results show a positive relationship between digital infrastructure and innovation in Africa. Furthermore, the interactive effect of digital infrastructure and human capital is significantly related to innovation, implying that digital infrastructure can indirectly enhance innovation through human capital accumulation. To promote innovation, the study recommends that policies that improve digital infrastructure should be pursued simultaneously with policies that enhance human capital.

Land prices, digital instruments and retail performance

PurposeThe results indicate that land prices exert pressure on retail performance (RP) and that the enhancement of digital means has a positive effect on RP. Additionally, digital instruments (DI) play a significant moderating role in the relationship between land prices and RP.Design/methodology/approachThis paper empirically examines the impact of land prices on RP using panel data from 239 Chinese cities between 2011 and 2022.FindingsThe use of lagged land prices as instrumental variables effectively alleviates endogeneity issues. Both two-stage least squares (2SLS) and generalized method of moments (GMM) regression results suggest that higher land prices are associated with improved RP. Further analysis reveals that the increase in land prices leads to scale effects, structural effects and technological effects, contributing to the enhancement of RP. The impact of land prices on RP becomes more pronounced in larger cities and economically developed regions experience the pressure from land prices earlier.Originality/valueThe findings of this study have practical implications for discussions on retail industry development, site selection for retail businesses and the establishment of sustainable mechanisms for expanding domestic demand.

Impact of natural resource rents on well-being in sub-Saharan Africa: The role of human capital

This study contributes to the resource curse literature in diverse means. First, using a non-monetary welfare measure, the study investigates the validity of the resource curse hypothesis in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Secondly, the paper examines the impact of natural resource rents on human welfare through the human capital channel and finally investigates the minimum human capital score to avert the resource curse in SSA. The empirical analysis conducted using the system Generalized Method of Moment (GMM) econometric approach on a panel of 32 SSA countries spanning the period 2004–2019, demonstrates that resource rents have a dumping effect on human progress. However, investing in human capital may avert the negative repercussions emanating from the natural resource-welfare link. Further, the study revealed the minimum threshold level for human capital score and tertiary school enrollment rate as 2.40 units and 23.21 %, respectively, necessary to avert the prosperity curse. To increase human prosperity, policymakers are recommended to increase investment in education in order to increase tertiary school enrollment above the estimated threshold and institute policies that will increase the average years the productive unit spent in schooling.

Threshold nonlinearities and the democracy-growth nexus

Summary This paper investigates the relationship between democracy and economic growth in the context of a linear index threshold regression model. We first introduce the baseline model with endogeneity and propose a two-step smoothed generalised method of moments estimation method. We establish the consistency and derive the asymptotic distributions of the proposed estimators. We then extend the approach to a dynamic panel context and employ the model to explore the impact of democratisation on economic growth. Our findings reveal that democratisation’s impact on growth is nonlinear and depends on the country’s current institutional quality level. Furthermore, democracy’s impact on economic growth is more pronounced in countries with higher education levels than others, suggesting that education also plays a crucial role in enhancing the positive effects of democracy. Our proposed estimator can be used in other situations that require the use of more than one threshold variable. In these cases, our hybrid estimator has less stringent data requirements than an alternative model where the thresholds would enter separately, especially when the threshold variables are correlated.

A Study on Entrepreneurship and Growth Nexus in High and Low-Income Countries : The Application of Panel Regression Estimation

While common sense would suggest that entrepreneurship and economic growth are positively related, it remains unclear whether entrepreneurship is a primary predictor of economic growth conceptually and empirically. Evidence from the literature has revealed a mixed result. Some authors conclude that entrepreneurship drives economic growth positively and significantly. However, others found an inverse relationship between entrepreneurship and growth. Within the paper's framework, entrepreneurship's actual impact on growth across some selected high- and low-income countries has been brought to light. The discussion starts by measuring the degree of association among the variables across the selected clusters of countries. A panel estimation technique, more specifically the Generalized Methods of Moments (GMM) technique, is adopted to make the comparison. Data on 39 high-income countries as well as 24 low-income countries from the period of 1999 to 2019 were considered. It was observed that entrepreneurship positively impacts growth across high-income countries. However, entrepreneurship does not necessarily aid growth within low-income countries.

Attaining global peace and tourism competitiveness: linkages between tourism, security measures and economic stability

PurposeThe Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 outlines sustainability as associated with peace, good governance and justice. The perception of international tourists about security measures and risks is a key factor affecting destination choices, tourist flow and overall satisfaction. Thus, we investigate the impact of armed forces personnel, prices, economic stability, financial development and infrastructure on tourism.Design/methodology/approachThis research used data from 130 countries from 1995 to 2019, which were divided into four income groups. This study employs a two-step generalized method of moments (GMM) technique and a novel tourism index comprising five relevant indicators of tourism.FindingsA 1% increase in armed forces personnel expands tourism in all income groups – 0.369% High Income Countries (HICs), 0.348% Upper Middle Income Countries (UMICs), 0.247% Lower Middle Income Countries (LMICs) and 0.139% Low Income Countries (LICs). The size of the tourism-safety coefficient decreases from high to low-income groups. The impact of inflation is significantly negative in all panels, excluding LICs. The reduction in tourism was 0.033% in HICs, 0.049% in UMICs and 0.029% in LMICs for a 1% increase in prices. The increase in the global tourism index is more in LICs (0.055%), followed by LMICs (0.024%), UMICs (0.009%) and HICs (0.004%) for a 1% expansion in the gross domestic product (GDP)/capita growth. However, the magnitude of the growth-led tourism impact is greater in developing countries. A positive impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) inflow was found in all panels like 0.016% in HICs, 0.050% in UMICs and 0.119% in LMICs for a 1% increase in FDI inflow. The rise in the global tourism index is 0.097% (HICs), 0.124% (UMICs) and 0.310% (LMICs) for a 1% rise in the financial development index. The increase in the global tourism index is 0.487% (HICs), 0.420% (UMICs) and 0.136% (LICs) for a 1% rise in the infrastructure index.Research limitations/implicationsEmpirical analysis infers important policy implications such as (a) establishment of a peaceful environment via recruitment of security personnel, use of safe city cameras, modern technology and law enforcement; (b) provision of basic facilities to tourists like sanitation, drinking water, electricity, accommodation, quality food, fuel and communication network and (c) price stability through different tools of monetary and fiscal policy.Originality/valueFirst, it explains the effect of security personnel on a comprehensive index of tourism instead of a single variable of tourism. Second, it captures the importance of economic stability (i.e., economic growth, financial development and FDI inflow) in the tourism–peace nexus.

The impact of oil and global markets on Saudi stock market predictability: A machine learning approach

This study investigates the predictability power of oil prices and six international stock markets namely, China, France, UK, Germany, Japan, and the USA, on the Saudi stock market using five Machine Learning (ML) techniques and the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM). Our analysis reveals that prior to the 2006 collapse, oil exerted the least influence on the Saudi market, while the UK and Japan were the most influential stock markets. However, after the collapse, oil became the most influential factor, highlighting the strong dependence of Saudi Arabia's economic structure on oil production. This finding is particularly noteworthy given Saudi Arabia's efforts to reduce its reliance on oil through Vision 2030. We further demonstrate that China's influence on the Saudi market increased significantly after the 2006 collapse, surpassing that of the UK. This is attributable to the substantial trade between China, Japan, and Saudi Arabia, as well as the rise in Saudi foreign direct investment in China, and the decline in such investment in the UK post-collapse. Our results carry important implications for stock market investors and policymakers alike. We suggest that policymakers in Saudi Arabia should continue to diversify their economy away from oil and strengthen economic ties with emerging markets, particularly China, to reduce their vulnerability to oil price fluctuations and ensure sustainable economic growth.

Tác động của tính bất định đến tính không minh bạch của ngân hàng thương mại Việt Nam

The study examines the impact of uncertainty on bank opacity while particularly taking into account the moderating role of market structures. Using a sample of Vietnamese banks from 2007 to 2019, the paper measures uncertainty at the disaggregate level of the banking sector through the dispersion of bank shocks and regresses the bank opacity. The research introduces both structural and non-structural proxies of bank competition/concentration to better explore the role of market structures. Empirical regressions are conducted using the two-step system generalized method of moments (GMM) technique, and then verified by the least squares dummy variable corrected (LSDVC) estimator. The research result suggests that bank earnings opacity is less severe in periods of higher uncertainty. This implies that banks in a competitive markets need to reduce information asymmetry and more transparent in uncertainty.

Institutional quality, information and communication technologies and gender inclusion nexus: global comparative evidence

PurposeDespite the longstanding male dominance in the socio-politico-economic spheres, recent decades have witnessed remarkable improvements in gender inclusion. Although the issue of gender inclusion has been widely documented, answers to the question of whether institutional arrangements and information technology shape gender inclusion remain contentious. This study, therefore, empirically examines the effects of institutional quality and information and communication technology (ICT) penetration on gender inclusion on a global scale.Design/methodology/approachTo control for the endogeneity of modeled variables and cross-sectional dependence inherent with large panel datasets, the study employs the Driscoll-Kraay fixed effects (DKFE) and the system generalised method of moments (GMM) estimators for a panel of 142 countries from 1996 to 2020.FindingsThe empirical findings from the DKFE and system GMM estimators reveal that strong institutions significantly enhance gender inclusion. Moreover, by disaggregating institutional quality into various governance indicators, we show that besides corruption control, which has a positive but insignificant effect on women’s empowerment, other governance indicators significantly enhance gender inclusion. Furthermore, there is evidence that various ICT measures promote gender inclusion.Practical implicationsThe study results suggest that policymakers in developing countries should implement stringent measures to curb corruption. Moreover, policymakers in low-income countries should create avenues to facilitate women’s access to ICTs. Hence, policymakers in low-income countries should create and equip ICT training centers and render them accessible to all categories of women. Furthermore, developed countries with high-tech knowledge could help developing countries by organizing free training workshops and sensitization campaigns concerning the use of ICTs vis-à-vis women empowerment in various fields of life.Originality/valueThe present study fills a significant research gap by comprehensively exploring the nexuses between governance, ICT penetration and the socio-politico-economic dimensions of gender inclusion from a global perspective. Besides the paucity of studies in this regard, the few existing studies have been focused on either region and country-specific case studies in developed or developing economies. Moreover, this study is timely, given the importance placed on gender inclusion (SDG5), quality of institutions (SDG16) and ICT penetration (SDG9) in the 2015–2030 global development agenda.

How does the heterogeneity of institutional investors influence corporate tax avoidance? The moderating role of family ownership

PurposeThis study provides new insights into the relationship between the heterogeneity of institutional investors (IIs) and corporate tax avoidance (CTA). It also investigates whether family ownership moderates this relationship.Design/methodology/approachBased on a sample of 200 French-listed firms from 2008 to 2017, we use the generalized method of moment (GMM) estimator proposed by Arellano and Bover (1995) and developed by Blundell and Bond (1998) to address endogeneity and omitted variable concerns.FindingsThe results show that passive IIs are associated with an increase in the level of tax avoidance. However, active ones significantly decrease the levels of tax avoidance practices. Moreover, we show that institutional activism is not sufficient to control managerial actions, particularly in the context of controlled family businesses. The results suggest that families may expropriate the rights of minority shareholders through a controlling coalition with passive IIs.Research limitations/implicationsThis study has several practical implications. First, the results are useful for policymakers who should constrain passive IIs to provide only one service (asset management). Second, this study may sensitize family owners to the need to cooperate with active IIs that are effective in monitoring the firm. In particular, families should be willing to sacrifice some of their socioemotional wealth to promote a balanced ownership structure, which is important for responsible and effective corporate governance.Originality/valueThis paper extends previous research by investigating the heterogeneity of IIs in terms of horizon, ownership and control. In addition, this paper sheds a new light on how family firms behave regarding tax avoidance practices in the presence of active and passive IIs.

Policy interventions and market innovation in rural China: Empirical evidence from Taobao villages

Rural e-commerce has served as a crucial bridge between farmers and markets, playing a pivotal role in the transformation of agricultural landscapes. This study sought to examine the impact of policy interventions on the development of rural e-commerce, seeking to determine whether rural e-commerce clusters form spontaneously. To achieve these goals, we combined statistical data, data from remote sensing techniques and geographic information system (GIS), and additional data collected through web scraping, employing a dynamic regression model based on the system generalized method of moments (GMM) to conduct the empirical analysis. The research findings indicate that policy interventions play a significantly positive role in promoting rural e-commerce development. Further, the mechanism analysis demonstrates that e-commerce policies have driven the increase in the number of enterprises in rural China, and the cluster of enterprises is key to the formation of Taobao villages. This empirical evidence provides reliable support for other developing countries seeking to effectively promote rural e-commerce development through national policies.