Corporate and managerial characteristics as drivers of social responsibility disclosure by state-owned enterprises

The public administration sector, including state owned enterprises (SOEs), has developed various types of information disclosure practice, in response to stakeholders’ demands, in parallel with developments in the private sector. This paper analyses the corporate social responsibility (CSR) information disclosed by SOEs and the influence exerted by the characteristics of the SOEs themselves (size, industry sector, degree of government ownership and number of years in operation) and by those of their managers (age, gender, CSR education profile and CSR responsibilities in the workplace). To do so, an index of CSR information disclosure was created, based on the responses made to a questionnaire in this respect. An empirical regression model was then applied to test and categorise the factors analysed. According to the results obtained, the size and sector of the SOE, together with the manager’s CSR responsibilities, are the factors that most significantly affect the online disclosure of CSR information.     

信息披露与IPO首日回报率

考虑IPO股票长期持有收益对投资者决策的影响，将单期决策的效用函数拓展为多期决策的效用函数，在理性预期模型框架下，以我国新股发行市场微观结构为背景建立理论模型，对信息披露影响IPO首日回报率的微观作用机制提供了一种理论解释。模型表明：信息披露与IPO首日回报率负相关，披露的信息即公共信息降低了二级市场定价对一级市场定价的偏离程度，从而对IPO首日回报率产生负向影响。以2009年6月至2016年11月在深圳主板上市交易的593家IPO公司为样本对模型进行了实证检验，实证结论支持理论模型结论。本文的研究不仅在研究视角、方法上丰富了IPO首日回报率的研究文献，而且可以为监管者提供相关的决策建议。     

股权激励计划公告前的盈余管理——来自中国上市公司的经验证据

本文以"上市公司股权激励管理办法"颁布以来沪深两市首次披露股权激励计划的上市公司为研究对象,运用单样本T检验和配对样本T检验的方法,研究了股权激励计划公告日前经理人的盈余管理行为.研究发现:股权激励计划公告日前的三个季度,经理人通过操纵"操纵性应计利润"进行了向下的盈余管理,公告日后盈余存在反转现象;但是,并没有显著的证据表明经理人在股权激励计划公告日前通过操纵"非经常性损益"进行盈余管理.     

What explains variation in voluntary disclosure? A study of the annual reports of corporations listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange

The demand for information and transparency from listed corporations has recently increased. In spite of an increased demand for mandatory disclosures from regulators, corporations choose to voluntarily disclose additional information in order to satisfy demands from the capital market. However, the extent and content of information in those voluntary disclosures vary across corporations. The aim of this study is to explain the variation in the content of information in voluntary disclosures by listed corporations. The analyses are based on data collected from 431 annual reports from corporations listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange during the years 2002 and 2005. The findings support explanations from agency theory and positive accounting theory that size and the debt ratio are positively correlated with the content of information in voluntary disclosures. Corporations with a high share of management ownership disclosed less information than corporations with a low share of management ownership. The study also shows that variations in voluntary disclosures can be explained by factors derived from institutional theory and ‘international capital market pressures’. The results indicate that foreign ownership and international listing to some extent have a positive effect on the content of information in voluntary disclosures. Industry was another factor that had a significant influence on voluntary disclosures. One important finding is that regulation to some extent can stimulate voluntary disclosures; our results did not indicate an ‘unintended chilling effect’ due to too much regulation. In general, the corporations disclosed more voluntary information after the introduction of IFRS.     

信息不确定性与盈余公告后漂移现象(PEAD)——来自中国上市公司的经验证据

盈余公告后的漂移现象(PEAD)一直是财务学和会计学关注的热点之一。本文从信息不确定性的角度出发,对PEAD现象的存在性和持续性问题作了研究。我们的结论是:信息质量是PEAD产生和持续的重要原因之一,它既可以通过影响未预期盈余的大小,间接影响盈余公告后的漂移现象(PEAD),这主要表现在,信息质量差的股票多集中在未预期盈余极端组合中;也可以直接对PEAD产生影响,即在盈余公告后,信息质量差的投资组合平均累计超常收益大于信息质量好的投资组合。另外,随着时间推移,信息质量差的投资组合的超常收益下降幅度较大,这主要是因为随着理性的投资者对盈余公告中的相关信息的解读,信息不确定性下降,风险逐步释放,所以这类股票的超常收益下降幅度较大,而信息质量好的股票有较少的信息不确定性,故超常收益下降较少。     

基于竞争性信息传播模型的信息失真治理研究

网络谣言是由信息失真产生的不良信息，本文从微博社交网络谣言事件传播演化一般过程出发，研究谣言信息与辟谣信息的竞争传播过程，基于SIR模型进行改进，从系统动力学视角构建谣言信息和辟谣信息的竞争传播模型，并使用Anylogic软件实现模型仿真。实验表明，网民素养较高时，谣言信息的传播规模显著萎缩。节点接触环境中辟谣信息的接触权重较大时，能有效抑制谣言的传播。进而总结了研究的理论意义和实践意义，提出了提高网民素质、对网络节点的接触环境进行调控等网络空间不良信息治理建议。     

Using Risk Communication to Disclose the Outcome of a Participatory Decision-Making Process: Effects on the Perceived Acceptability of Risk-Policy Decisions

It has been suggested that public participation during decision making about risks can lead to more widely accepted risk policies. This article discusses an experiment to determine if this is true when people are made aware of the fact that a participatory decision-making process has taken place only through information disclosed during a subsequent risk communication effort. The results from this experiment showed that, after receiving information during risk communication that cast risk policies about space exploration as the product of a participatory decision process, participants in the study felt more supportive of the resulting decisions than did participants in a control group. This result coincided with the participants in the study group perceiving the risks associated with the decision to be lower and the benefits higher. Responses from these participants also showed that they were more satisfied with the decision-making process than they were with the outcome of the decision itself Therefore, it may be premature to view the objective of participatory decision-making approaches-and the risk communication efforts that discuss them-as a means of making risk policies more widely acceptable to the public at large. Rather, it may be better to view the benefits of these approaches in terms of their ability to help lead to higher quality decisions that are the product of more widely accepted decision processes.     

引入信息成本的信息结构与股权融资成本

本文放松了Easley和O’Hara信息成本为0的假设,在他们的信息结构模型的理论框架下,构建了一个引入信息成本因素的信息结构模型。从信息结构的四个方面：信息成本、信息风险、信息披露的质量和先验信息质量研究了信息结构与股权融资成本之间的关系,得出了四个推论,从而拓展了信息结构模型。在进一步的实证研究中,选取市场微观结构理论中的逆向选择成本、知情交易概率-PIN分别作为信息成本和信息风险的衡量指标,研究发现：信息成本与股权融资成本之间呈倒‘U’型曲线关系;信息风险越高的股票股权融资成本越高;信息披露质量越高的公司,股权融资成本越低;先验信息质量越高,股权融资成本越低;从而对推论进行了有效验证。本文与Easley和O’Hara最大不同在于引入了信息成本因素,并且用实证方法对推论进行了验证,具有一定的开创性。     

Let the Citizens Map—Public Participation GIS as a Planning Support System in the Helsinki Master Plan Process

Current public participation methods are laborious, reach few participants and are ineffective at gathering usable information for planning. This situation leads often to mistrust and dissatisfaction in the process and outcome. This article identifies the critical conditions for meaningful use of public participation GIS (PPGIS) tools to support the making of master plan in Helsinki. With PPGIS tools, residents’ insight of their living environment can be reached and utilized along the planning process. The results are divided to conceptual and empirical points. Whereas the conceptual points emphasize better understanding of the locus of the PPGIS tools in planning process, the empirical findings reveal new ways to study how residents’ perceptions align with the plan proposal. Though new tools, data and analysis can support representativeness, independence, early involvement, influence and transparency, planners and residents need more understanding of the benefits of these tools. The study indicates that though planners found the collected data and the analysis valuable, they still lacked the skills and institutional motivation to use the data effectively. The results point out that when PPGIS tools can be integrated to the mainstream planning practices, the tools have the ability to evolve to a more comprehensive participatory planning support system.     

阶段性信息披露和风险资产定价

上市公司的内部人通常拥有比其他投资者更多的信息,同时他们有义务把所知道的信息透露给投资者。但是在现实的金融市场中,信息披露者通常会采取对其最有利的信息披露方式。不同于以往的信息披露模型,我们假定内部人所披露的信息必须是正确而且全面的,但他们可以在一定程度内调整信息披露的时机。本文研究了这种情形下的资产均衡价格,并且分析了其经济含义以及在金融监管方面的实践意义。     

碳税制度下企业产品升级及信息披露策略研究

在实行碳税制度的背景下,本文构建了包含两家制造商的双寡头模型,以其中一家制造商是否投资产品升级减排作为关键信息,分别研究信息不公开(模型1)和信息公开(模型2)时两家制造商的均衡定价与最优利润以及制造商产品升级的条件,并且进一步研究当制造商同时掌握技术决策权和信息披露权时选择四种不同决策方案的条件。理论结果表明,如果升级后单位实际生产成本变大,制造商选择不升级且不公开;如果升级后单位实际成本变小,当升级后利润增值大于固定成本投入时,制造商选择升级并不公开,反之,选择不升级并公开。无论升级前后单位实际成本大小关系如何,制造商都不会选择升级且公开信息。数值试验部分表明,当制造商同时掌握技术选择权和信息披露权时,碳税是驱动制造商进行升级减排的主要因素,随着碳税的提高,制造商会依次从不升级不公开,不升级公开到升级不公开做决策。当不升级的概率越大时,制造商会在较低的碳税点越早开始升级;当减排努力越大时,制造商会在较高的碳税点才开始升级。     

Reducing the Effort to Comprehend Risk Models: Text Labels Are Often Preferred Over Graphical Means

Risk analysis involves people with different roles and competences. The validity of the outcome depends on that they are able to communicate; ideally between themselves, but at least with or via a risk analyst. The CORAS risk modeling language has been developed to facilitate communication between stakeholders involved in the various stages of risk analysis. This article reports the results from an empirical investigation among professionals, where the purpose was to investigate how graphical effects (size, color, shape) and text labels introduced in the CORAS risk modeling language affected the understanding. The results indicate that if graphical effects are used to illustrate important information, they should also be accompanied by informative textual labels.     

股东为什么在解禁后会减持股票?——基于背景风险分析的股票解禁效应研究

背景风险指投资者因持有非交易性资产而承担的风险,会降低投资组合效率。本文以2016年全年1502家公司限售股解禁事件为样本,从背景风险的角度分析了股东的解禁减持行为,并对限售股解禁的价格效应进行了研究。实证结果表明,背景风险因素对解禁后股价异常收益具备显著负向影响。基于背景风险的投资组合调整效应相较于"高位套现"效应对股价变动的影响更为显著。研究还发现解禁规模对股票异常收益具备显著负向影响;公司规模及异常换手率,在解禁期间缓解了股价的下降;不同的解禁性质对股价也有一定影响,相较于定向增发解禁,首发IPO解禁对股价的影响更大。     

To What Extent Are Labor‐Saving Technologies Improving Efficiency in the Use of Human Resources? Evidence from the Banking Industry

With special reference to the banking industry, the objective of this study is to address managerial concerns over the impact of labor‐saving technologies on efficiency in the use of human resources. A bank is viewed as a collection of human, technology, and capital resources. Labor‐saving technologies are represented by two categories of technology resources—information technologies and patented in‐house process innovations. The estimation of a stochastic frontier manpower‐requirement function shows that, whereas information technology resources have a direct impact on efficiency in the use of human resources, in‐house process innovations have an indirect impact through spillovers. The reduction in labor costs resulting from a more efficient use of human resources is more than enough to cover the required increase in information technology expenditures. This cost‐reducing impact is stronger for firms currently employing a lower level of information technologies. The empirical findings also suggest a complementary relationship between information technologies and spillovers of in‐house process innovations. The empirical framework proposed in this study can help decision makers determine the optimal input mix of technology and human resources.     

The Role of Innovation Characteristics and Perceived Voluntariness in the Acceptance of Information Technologies

The often paradoxical relationship between investment in information technology and gains in productivity has recently been attributed to a lack of user acceptance of information technology innovations. Diverse streams of research have attempted to explain and predict user acceptance of new information technologies. A common theme underlying these various research streams is the inclusion of the perceived characteristics of an innovation as key independent variables. Furthermore, prior research has utilized different outcomes to represent user acceptance behavior. In this paper we focus on individual's perceptions about the characteristics of the target technology as explanatory and predictive variables for acceptance behavior, and present an empirical study examining the effects of these perceptions on two frequently used outcomes in the context of the innovation represented by the World Wide Web. The two outcomes examined are initial use of an innovation and intentions to continue such use in the future, that is, to routinize technology use. Two research questions motivated and guided the study. First, are the perceptions that predict initial use the same as those that predict future use intentions? Our results confirm, as hypothesized by prior research, that innovation characteristics do explain acceptance behavior. The results further reveal that the specific characteristics that are relevant for each acceptance outcome are different. The second research question asks if perceived voluntariness plays a role in technology acceptance. Results show that external pressure has an impact on adopters' acceptance behavior. Theoretical and practical implications that follow are presented.     

Integrated reporting: an exploratory study of French companies

The increasing complexity of the business world has led to growing demands for companies to provide information about their financial performance, their corporate governance and their contribution to developing sustainability. In addition, there are increasing needs for investors to obtain more information about the value creation process since financial reporting systems account imperfectly for most of intangible assets generated by companies. In this context, this article aims to determine if integrated reporting does effectively achieve the objective of reducing the information asymmetry. To answer this research question, a qualitative content analysis was conducted of the IR disclosed by the French companies in the period of 2013–16. The study reveals that information asymmetry is not reduced since companies mention only some capitals as inputs to their value creation process while almost entirely excluding natural capital. Moreover, companies disclose only positive information mainly about their financial capital, without mentioning any destruction of capital, especially not the natural one. Finally, from our findings, signals disclosed by these companies can be classified in three categories: intent signals composed of information about social and relational capital; camouflage signals composed of information about the reduction of the pollution without mentioning the pollution itself and need signals composed of information about dividends encouraging investors to maintain their financial support.

     

股票市场透明度、信息份额与价格发现效率

股票市场透明度是交易机制设计的一个重要方面,这关系着资本市场能否有效促进价格发现及其效率。2003年12月8日深圳证券交易所买卖盘揭示范围由三档变为五档,股票市场透明度增加。基于信息份额模型,本文研究了市场透明度的增加对价格发现效率的影响。结果表明,新增加的两档报价向市场传递了边际信息含量,有助于投资者做出理性投资决策;同时,交易价格偏离有效价格的定价误差显著减小,收益自相关性程度降低,交易价格更加趋向于有效。因此,市场透明度的增加促进了资本市场价格发现及其效率的提高,为今后市场透明度的改革提供了有意义的参考意见。     

Evaluating airline competitiveness using multiattribute decision making

This paper presents an objective approach to the evaluation of airline competitiveness. The evaluation problem is formulated as a multiattribute decision making model and solved by three widely used methods (the simple additive weighting method, the weighted product method and the technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution) based on multiattribute value theory. A new empirical validation procedure is developed to deal with the inconsistency problem of evaluation outcomes produced by the three methods. The procedure selects the evaluation outcome which has a minimum expected value loss. An empirical study on Taiwan's five major domestic airlines is conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach. To measure and compare overall competitiveness of the airlines, five competitiveness dimensions and their associated objective performance measures on both efficiency and effectiveness are identified. The result of empirical validation for the three methods suggests the use of the simple additive weighting method. The evaluation outcome helps an airline identify its competitive advantages relative to its competitors. The objective approach presented is particularly applicable when subjective judgements on performance ratings and attribute weights are not reliable, or suitable decision makers are not available.     

Corporate Governance mechanisms as drivers that enhance the credibility and usefulness of CSR disclosure

The aim of this paper is to examine what kinds of CG mechanisms (institutional, firm or group level) are driving getting an Assurance or a GRI application level, like CSR disclosure decisions linked with credibility and usefulness of the information disclosed, in the particular context of energy companies. Previous evidence is scarce and does not jointly consider all levels of CG mechanisms. Our sample is composed by 176 energy companies worldwide which currently report about CSR through a sustainability report. On the basis of our findings, we could support the idea that the credibility of the CSR report of the utilities companies will be greater if the company listed in a Relation-Based country has an Assurance report. In addition, those companies that have a concentrated ownership and the fewer insiders sitting in the BoD present more probabilities of having an Assurance. Moreover, the usefulness of the CSR information provided by this kind of firms will be higher, the greater the efficiency of the BoD will be. The enhancement of the credibility and the usefulness of the information reported is essential for companies involved in this sector due to the frequent claim of window-dressing behaviours.     

中国老股转让制度提高还是降低了IPO定价效率?——基于投资者行为下的理论与实证分析框架

在假定投资者存在私人信息的情况下,以投资者行为为研究视角,构建了老股转让前后IPO定、抑价模型,研究了老股转让前后投资者行为对IPO定价效率的影响,并进行了比较分析。理论模型和数值分析表明:在两种不同的制度下,散户投资者越乐观,IPO定价效率越低,且散户和机构投资者之间的分歧越大,IPO定价效率也越低;在投资者情绪相同的情况下,老股转让制度降低了IPO抑价,具有更高的定价效率;然而,当老股转让后投资者之间的分歧大于老股转让前分歧时,则可能导致老股转让后的IPO抑价高于老股转让前的IPO抑价,即老股转让后的IPO抑价更高,IPO定价效率更低。论文以我国2009-2012以及2014年IPO数据进行实证研究,初步统计发现,老股转让后的IPO抑价明显高于老股转让前IPO抑价,得到与理论模型恰好相反的结论;实证分析结果表明,老股转让后投资者情绪对IPO抑价影响明显大于老股转让前的,也就是说,由于老股转让制度反而提高了我国投资者的乐观情绪,从而导致了与理论模型预期恰好相反的结果。因此,加强投资者理性培养对于我国IPO市场化改革的成败至关重要。