https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/25935 2026-04-05T02:24:31Z 2026-04-05T02:24:31Z Azinogo, Benjamin Kwakutsey Erasmus, Lourens Jacobus https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/135114 2025-05-07T10:23:06Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Corporate governance challenges and their impact on public sector auditing in Africa : an exploration of effectiveness, accountability, and transparency Authors: Azinogo, Benjamin Kwakutsey; Erasmus, Lourens Jacobus Abstract: Corporate governance remains a fundamental issue for stakeholders in the oversight of organisations, particularly within the context of public sector auditing. Effective governance, coupled with robust auditing practices, is essential for ensuring transparency and accountability in governmental operations. However, in many African nations, corporate governance frameworks have been either inadequately implemented or have failed to achieve their intended outcomes. This study explores the challenges faced by auditees in relation to corporate governance and their subsequent impact on the efficacy of public sector auditing across Africa. Employing a phenomenological research approach, the study utilised an exploratory sequential qualitative design to gather insights from focus group discussions. A total of 33 key affinities and 153 sub-affinities, encompassing critical corporate governance issues, were identified by three focus groups from selected Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) in Africa. These identified affinities included audit execution and recommendations, audit acceptance, political interference, ineffective audit committees, inadequate collaboration and communication, and weaknesses in legislative oversight. Among the key themes emerging from the analysis, the auditee corporate governance policy framework was highlighted as a significant factor influencing auditing outcomes. The findings provide a detailed examination of the unique factors affecting the effectiveness of public sector audits in promoting accountability and transparency. The study proposes a comprehensive policy framework based on a resource-based theoretical perspective, designed to enhance the impact of public sector auditing in African nations. This framework is intended to guide executive governments, legislative bodies, SAIs, citizens, and other stakeholders towards improving governance and securing better public sector outcomes. The empirical evidence provided herein offers valuable insights into the complex interplay between corporate governance and auditing effectiveness, contributing to the ongoing discourse on accountability and transparency in the African public sector.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Wang, Cheng Kong, Weisen https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/135113 2025-05-07T10:20:34Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Industry and regional spillover effects of penalties for disclosure noncompliance among public firms Authors: Wang, Cheng; Kong, Weisen Abstract: This study investigates the industry-wide and regional spillover effects of penalties for noncompliance with information disclosure regulations, focusing on publicly listed firms in China. The analysis is based on panel data from Chinese listed companies, revealing that penalties imposed by the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) on noncompliant firms lead to significant improvements in the quality of information disclosure by other firms in the same industry or geographical region that were not subject to penalties. These spillover effects are found to be contingent on factors such as the competitive dynamics within the industry and the level of regional economic development. Furthermore, the results indicate that the impact of penalties on neighbouring firms is amplified when the publication cycle for penalty announcements is shorter, though the effect diminishes over time as the information becomes less salient. These findings contribute to the understanding of regulatory enforcement mechanisms and their broader influence on corporate transparency, highlighting the role of both industry and regional contexts in shaping compliance behaviour.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Marais, Alastair https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/135112 2025-05-07T10:19:58Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Market reaction to the interaction between top management tone and earnings management : evidence from South Africa Authors: Marais, Alastair Abstract: South Africa has been severely impacted by several high-profile corporate scandals, with significant financial manipulation involving both the content of financial statements and the tone set by top executives. Notably, CEOs such as Markus Jooste from Steinhoff have been accused of misleading investors through both earnings management and the use of an authoritative management tone. This study investigates the market's reaction to the interactive effect of top management tone and earnings management, employing a short-window event study methodology. The tones of two distinct management styles—autocratic and pragmatic—are examined by analysing CEO statements using the DICTION textual analysis software. The sample comprises 944 firm-year observations spanning from 2011 to 2018. The results indicate that the market did not respond to earnings management in isolation. However, a significant negative market reaction was observed when earnings management occurred in conjunction with an autocratic tone. This suggests that South African investors are particularly attuned to multiple signals of potential fraud and will adjust their valuations accordingly. The findings underline the importance of considering not only financial disclosures but also the behavioral cues given by top management in assessing firm performance and risk. Investors, regulators, and analysts must therefore remain vigilant to the combined risks posed by earnings manipulation and the tone of management communications. The study contributes to the limited literature on the stock market's response to the interplay of earnings management and management tone, particularly in the context of South Africa, and is the first to explore the combined effects of these two forms of manipulation.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Imami, Gjeni Risteska, Fanka https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/135109 2025-05-07T10:13:35Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: The impact of global stock market indices on national GDP : an empirical analysis of the S&P 500, CAC 40, and Nikkei 225 (2014-2023) Authors: Imami, Gjeni; Risteska, Fanka Abstract: This study investigates the relationship between three prominent global stock market indices, Standard & Poor's 500 (S&P 500), Cotation Assistée en Continu 40 (CAC 40), and Nikkei 225 and the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the United States, France, and Japan, respectively, over the period from 2014 to 2023. This research uses empirical analysis where the correlation and regression analysis of these three investment market indices and the GDP of those three nations is done. Based on the results of this research, we can say that the S&P 500 index has a significant impact, explaining approximately 80% of the variation in the GDP of the United States, while the other two indices, Nikkei 225 and CAC 40 have shown a positive statistical relationship with the GDP of Japan and France, accounting for 42% and 51% of GDP variance, respectively. This research also examines some of the roles of factors, such as the power of financial markets as economic indicators, while acknowledging the role of other macroeconomic indicators, including unemployment and inflation. Adjustments for inflation and currency ensure consistency across datasets. These results can be used to create strategies that develop stability and economic growth, improving risk management and the development of investment strategies. This study also reflects the function of fiscal regulations in eliminating the negative influences of unstable markets on financial performance. It is recommended that future researchers use other macroeconomic indicators such as unemployment rates, inflation and research in other countries to obtain a more detailed picture about aspects which can impact economic growth.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z