Governance and performance of MFIs: the Cameroon case

The main challenge of microfinance institutions and social economy firms remains their survival, and to meet this challenge, MFIs need to be competitive. The poor performance of MFIs is usually attributed to their decision-making and operational processes. The governance of MFIs is therefore identified as one of their main risks. Despite this, governance is still little explored in these organizations and empirical studies find a weak relationship between classical governance mechanisms and MFI performance, especially for the MFIs situated in Africa (Thrikawala et al. in Asian J Financ Account 5(1):160–182, 2013a). In this study, we examine whether the effect of governance mechanisms on the performance of MFIs differs according to their legal status in the Cameroonian context. On the one hand, our empirical results show that there is a significant relationship between some specific governance mechanisms and MFIs’ performance. On the other hand, adjusting the governance mechanisms according to the MFIs’ legal status improves their efficiency. The analysis of the impact of the governance mechanisms on the performance of MFIs requires not only an approach that is specific to this sector but also an approach that is adapted to their legal status. Moreover, from a managerial point of view, it would be desirable to adjust the governance mechanisms, depending on the legal status of the MFIs, to make them more efficient from the social as well as the financial standpoint.     

The governance of non-profit micro finance institutions: lessons from history

Microfinance is high on the public agenda, and better corporate governance has been identified as a key factor for enhancing the viability of the industry. However, recent literature on the subject struggles to identify the corporate governance mechanisms that influence the performance of the Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs). Guided by stakeholder and agency theories, this paper uses a historical parallel found in savings banks to present corporate governance lessons for MFIs, particularly non-profit MFIs, today. The findings indicate that monitoring by bank associations, depositors, donors, and local communities was important in securing the survival of savings banks. In addition, a willingness to expand their mission to serve wealthier customers alongside the poor helped the banks become financially viable. These findings could prompt a rethinking of microfinance governance, which stresses regulation, for-profit ownership, and traditional vertical board control. The paper argues that a broader and more stakeholder-based understanding of corporate governance is necessary. Moreover, the paper demonstrates that historical studies can provide governance lessons for today.     

Association of DEA super-efficiency estimates with financial ratios: Investigating the case for Chinese banks

The great majority of applications of the popular frontier technique data envelopment analysis (DEA) do not test for the association of efficiency estimates with key performance indicators used by industry observers. Nevertheless, identifying efficiency estimates’ associations with commonly accepted financial measures of performance could guide benchmarking activities, pricing decisions, and regulatory monitoring. Thus, the current paper investigates to what extent bank DEA super-efficiency estimates are associated with key financial ratios. A low correlation may present an opportunity to address inefficiencies that were not obvious in financial ratio analysis, thus enabling an update of inferences drawn from ratios. Regressing ratios on efficiency estimates may also help predict financial ratios. Where an input–output specification is comprised of key financial ratios, DEA can also be used to objectively identify benchmarks for ratio analysis based on actual observed data collected from peers. Nine super-efficiency DEA formulations across two profitability models are systematically tested. The slacks-based measure of DEA with a parsimonious profitability efficiency model emerges as the most significant combination explaining the variation in the two industry ratios, post-tax profit/average total assets and return on average equity.     

Microfinance,Mission Drift,and the Impact on the Base of the Pyramid: A Resource‐Based Approach

This article draws on resource‐based theory and the literature on strategic intent to develop a theoretical model that explains the concept of mission drift in microfinance institutions (MFIs). We argue that the differential strategic intents of commercially oriented, for‐profit, and socially oriented nonprofit organizations drive the acquisition of disparate resources and capabilities, which in turn drives distinct performance outcomes, including a focus on different markets within the overall base of the pyramid (BOP). The article suggests that it is the dynamic aspects of changing strategic intent and the consequent timing delays in the development of associated resources and capabilities that lead to various issues of mission drift. Finally, we suggest that cross‐sector alliances between for‐profit and nonprofit MFIs may benefit from the unique capabilities of both types of organizations and deliver the most and broadest impact on poverty alleviation in BOP markets.     

Corporate governance and performance of microfinance institutions: recent global evidences

Journal of Management and Governance - Using a global data set of 456 MFIs, this study investigates whether a MFI’s ownership structure and corporate governance influences its social...     

考虑多维效率的上市公司财务困境预警研究

已有的财务困境预警研究一般基于财务指标，或在财务指标基础上引入单一效率指标，而多维效率指标能够更加全面有效地反映不同行业、不同资产规模的上市公司整体状况，从而对上市公司财务困境产生更好的预警效果。本文从经营效率、财务效率、融资效率和人力资本效率这四个维度分别提出相对应的投入产出指标体系，并采用数据包络分析对上市公司各个维度的相对有效性进行评价。在此基础上，将得到的多维效率指标与财务指标相融合，建立上市公司财务困境预警模型。为了验证所提出模型的有效性，采用支持向量机、人工神经网络和决策树这三种常用的财务困境预警技术，并基于不同的财务指标体系对我国上市公司进行实证研究。结果表明，考虑多维效率指标的上市公司财务困境预警模型能够有效提高预测准确度。     

财务指标在股票投资决策中的有用性:基于中国证券市场的实证研究

本文以中国A股上市公司为研究对象,采用因子分析和Logistic回归分析的方法,研究财务指标对股票超额回报的解释能力。研究发现,就A股市场整体而言,通过财务指标预测股票超额回报的能力没有得到有力的证明,但回归模型对超额回报预测的准确率高于随机分布的准确率,表明市场上还是存在一定的盈利模式；影响股票超额回报的财务指标随时间变化而变化,表明中国证券市场尚未成熟稳定；而且,反映公司发展能力的财务指标几乎出现在所有的回归结果中,表明此类财务指标对股票投资者具有较强的指导意义。     

股市涨跌预测与量化投资策略:基于时变矩成分分析

利用时变矩成分分析提取高阶矩吸收率,改进基于阈值的高阶矩因子个数选择方法,提出基于元素值的联合矩成分分析权重设定,构造了一种基于股票市场高阶矩相关结构的量化投资策略。研究表明,基于矩成分吸收率的投资策略能够对股市涨跌做出有效预测,对于股市的重大系统风险尤为敏感,在熊市中也有良好表现;基于单因子吸收率、累积三因子吸收率和赫芬达尔吸收率的高阶矩投资策略优于二阶矩吸收率投资策略,而三阶矩单因子吸收率投资策略最优,基于元素值权重的投资策略优于基于元素个数权重的投资策略;量化投资策略具有参数稳健性,且可通过优化高阶矩的时变结构对投资效果进行优化。     

银行破产的财务因素分析:金融危机冲击下美国银行业的实证

由次贷危机引发的金融危机对美国银行业造成数以百计的商业银行破产,为研究商业银行破产提供了绝佳的样本。本文收集了受危机冲击的美国破产的商业银行样本以及对比样本,研究美国商业银行破产的财务影响因素。本文在用单变量检验方法检验备选财务指标有效性的基础上,建立了加权Logit模型,利用模型贡献度指标分析财务因素的显著性和影响程度。实证结果表明,不仅资产回报率、资本充足率、净贷款占比和金融衍生产品投资对银行破产具有显著影响,资产回报率和净贷款占比的变化率也具有显著作用;而且资产回报率和资本充足率的影响远远大于其他因素。值得特别提出的是,尽管金融衍生产品被广泛认为是这次金融危机的主要原因之一,实证结果显示金融衍生产品投资对样本银行的稳健性具有正向影响。     

Predicting corporate failure— Some results for the UK corporate sector

A large number of authors have developed statistical models, which are based solely on conventional financial ratios constructed from published accounting data, with the aim of predicting corporate failure as evidenced by the event of ‘bankruptcy’. The purpose of this paper is to report some empirical results for a study of the UK corporate sector in which corporate failure is predicted employing a statistical model which incorporates both conventional accounting ratios and a number of new variables which are not derived from profit and loss accounts and balance sheet items, but which are computed from annual company reports and accounts. The empirical results suggesting that our new variables enhance the predictive power of models which employ conventional financial ratios only.     

The use of accounting anomalies indicators to predict business failure

Most of the studies that try to predict business failure assume that accounts give a true and fair view of the financial position of a company, without considering that managers can discretionarily apply accounting rules or even perform accounting fraud. This paper takes a set of financial ratios especially designed to detect accounting anomalies as bankruptcy predictors. These ratios are not very common in bankruptcy prediction studies, but they come from creative accounting studies. The ratios try to identify abnormal depreciation figures, exaggerated receivables or deteriorating financial conditions preceding aggressive accounting practices. The empirical study has been performed from a sample of 51,337 public and private European companies, during the period 2012–2016. The analysis techniques applied were logistic regression and decision trees, allowing to obtain rules to predict the status of failed or non-failed. It is found that several indicators proposed in the literature as earnings management indicators present statistically significant differences between failed and non-failed firms, but they do not have enough predictive power to incorporate them into prediction models. However, an index developed to measure accounting anomalies exhibits high discriminatory power, similar to that of the classical financial ratios. The construction of the index and its application to private firm sample provide the main contribution of the paper, as the results suggest slightly better forecast accuracy only for the private firm sample. The inclusion of indicators to detect accounting anomalies should be considered when developing new models to predict bankruptcy, especially in private companies.     

Development of a Prediction Model for Hospital Closure Using Financial Accounting Data*

Numerous research studies have examined the use of financial accounting data in the prediction of corporate bankruptcy. Partly due to a lack of available data, however, little work has been done in developing a closure prediction model specifically for hospitals. Using cost reports from the Health Care Financing Administration and a sample of 71 closed hospitals and a matched sample of 71 open hospitals, the current study examines the relationship between 21 financial accounting ratios and hospital closure. Univariate logit results indicate that hospital closure is significantly related to 17 of the 21 ratios one year prior to closure. Results are also presented using a multivariate model, and for the relationships two years prior to closure. The current study provides information helpful to users in identifying financial variables which may be important indicators of hospital closure.     

利用扩展基尼均值系数计算股指期货套期保值比率

本文在Yitzhaki利用基尼均值系数计算金融期货套期保值比率的基础上,提出了利用扩展基尼均值系数来计算股指期货最优套期保值比率,并通过公式推导证明,Yitzhaki的基尼均值系数,仅是扩展基尼均值套期保值比率的特殊情况。     

Neural Networks: A New Tool for Predicting Thrift Failures*

A neural network model that processes input data consisting of financial ratios is developed to predict the financial health of thrift institutions. The network's ability to discriminate between healthy and failed institutions is compared to a traditional statistical model. The differences and similarities in the two modelling approaches are discussed. The neural network, which uses the same financial data, requires fewer assumptions, achieves a higher degree of prediction accuracy, and is more robust.     

SYSTEMIC AND IDIOSYNCRATIC SOVEREIGN DEBT CRISES

The theoretical literature on sovereign defaults has focused on adverse shocks to debtors' economies, suggesting that defaults are of an idiosyncratic nature. Still, sovereign debt crises are also of a systemic nature, clustered around panics in the financial center, such as the European Sovereign Debt Crisis in the aftermath of the US Subprime Crisis in 2008. Crises in the financial centers are rare disasters and, thus, their effects on the periphery can only be captured by examining long episodes. In this paper, we examine sovereign defaults from 1820 to the Great Depression, with a focus on Latin America. We find that 63% of the crises are of a systemic nature. These crises are different. Both the international collapse of liquidity and the growth slowdown in the financial centers are at their core. These global shocks trigger longer default spells and larger losses for investors.     

金融经济周期模型拟合中国经济的效果检验

金融经济周期理论是经济周期理论领域最新发展的前沿热点。本文将银行部门嵌入DSGE框架中建立金融经济周期模型,依据1992Q1~2011Q1的实际中国经济季度数据校正模型,研究模型拟合实际中国经济的效果。研究发现:(1)基本模型在较大参数范围内能够较好地模拟实际经济中主要变量的数据特征;(2)规则性政策模型和无规则政策模型都不是最接近实际经济的情形,半规则性模型预测的波动特征最接近实际经济的波动特征。     

Assessing financial risks using a multicriteria sorting procedure: the case of country risk assessment

The assessment of financial risks is a problem of major interest for corporate entities (organizations, financial institutions, firms, etc.). The vulnerable economic and financial environments necessitate the development of operational approaches to measure and control financial risks. Most of the methodologies that have been proposed in the past employ a probabilistic notion of risk. This paper proposes an alternative approach to measure financial risks, considering their multidimensional nature. The proposed approach is based on the multicriteria decision aid (MCDA) method Multi-Group Hierarchical DIScrimination (M.H.DIS). The aim of the M.H.DIS method within the financial risk assessment context is to develop a set of additive utility functions that classify the considered alternatives (firms, investment projects, portfolios, countries, etc.) into predefined risk classes. The efficiency of the method is illustrated through a case study regarding the country risk assessment problem. Using the M.H.DIS method a discrimination model is developed that classifies the countries into four groups, and measures the corresponding creditworthiness and risk of the countries. Several validation tests are performed in order to compare the classification results obtained through M.H.DIS to the results obtained through multiple discriminant analysis.     

A specific accounting approach for public universities

Many universities in Germany and other countries have introduced financial (or commercial) accounting to manage effectively their finances. It aligns with so-called new public sector management reforms worldwide. In this paper we analyze whether the components of this type of financial accounting reform suit the nature and objectives of German public universities. While the analysis mainly relates to the German situation, there are likely to be implications for public universities universally. Drawing on an analysis of the reports of two well known German-speaking universities, Heidelberg and Vienna, we analyze whether the components of the new financial accounting reforms suit the nature and objectives of those public universities. While we argue that cash-flow statements and balance sheets remain important, it is shown that it is necessary for state-run educational institutions to change several key elements of traditional commercial accounting. Because the success goals of such universities are non-profit-oriented, their financial accounting should be augmented by a ‘change in value statement’, replacing the traditional income statement. As their valuation cannot be correlated with the definition of profit in (German) public universities this term is suggested. By change in value we mean specifically that assets may experience a total loss or a decrease in value. In management accounting output measures and performance indicators should substitute revenues as the counterpart of costs. Furthermore, long-term financial decisions play a crucial role in universities. Therefore, a form of investment accounting is very important for them. The conventional form has to be modified by ‘investment statements’ and ‘knowledge balances’ of their intellectual capital. In this paper we also show how the concept of a balanced scorecard can be applied to public universities and how specific accounting instruments can be integrated into it.     

How Prevalent Are Stable-Paretian Distributed Financial Variables?

Many studies have claimed that the stable-Paretian distribution should be used to model a wide variety of financial variables, ranging from stock and futures prices to exchange rates. Using a newly developed method, this study shows that the stable distribution is unsuitable for modeling most financial variables that are stable-distributed. We found that the distributions of a few accounting ratios may be stable. Our conclusions support a change in the future directions of financial-variable modeling.     

Rising prices,financial statements and fundamental research

Adequate consideration cannot be given to the subject of inflation accounting without a rigorous reappraisal of the nature and usefulness of published financial statements. It is argued that much fundamental research is a necessary prerequisite for the evaluation of methods of accounting in a period of inflation. Such research should begin with a consideration of the purposes to be served by the publication of financial statements. A framework is presented for such fundamental research and the results of some preliminary work outlined to assess the usefulness of financial statements in providing information to assist investors to make investment decisions. The use of financial statements by investors for this purpose is one of a number of possible objectives for financial statements.