Suhaib Al-Khazaleh, Nemer Badwan, Ihab Qubbaj and Mohammad Almashaqbeh
In light of the complex risk and transparency regulations, this paper investigates the factors influencing the level of risk management disclosure by insurance firms in Jordan and…
Abstract
Purpose
In light of the complex risk and transparency regulations, this paper investigates the factors influencing the level of risk management disclosure by insurance firms in Jordan and Palestine. The characteristics examined were ownership structure, which covers public, institutional and management ownership on risk management disclosure (RMD) utilizing ISO 31000, as well as profitability, leverage, liquidity and firm size.
Design/methodology/approach
To achieve the aim of this study, a quantitative research methodology was used. Based on the total number of observations, 232 purposeful annual observations for the study sample were collected between 2016 and 2023 for 10 insurance companies listed on the Palestine stock exchange (Palestinian companies) with 80 observations and 19 companies listed on the Amman stock exchange (Jordanian companies) with 152 observations. This study uses panel data regression with fixed effects models. By employing the 2SLS approach, we comprehensively address the main endogeneity concerns and problems in risk management disclosure RMD of insurance firms in Jordan and Palestine.
Findings
The results show that risk management disclosure is significantly influenced by the liquidity and size of an organization. Furthermore, RMD is not significantly affected by profitability, debt, public ownership, institutional ownership or liquidity, whereas business size has a favorable influence.
Research limitations/implications
The findings of this study may not be generalizable to firms in other countries because of the limitations of insurance firms in Palestine and Jordan. Study replication in future studies should consider the potential for bias and differences in data interpretation when utilizing qualitative methodologies to evaluate RMD.
Practical implications
The practical implications emphasize how crucial it is for investors, practitioners and stakeholders to choose firms that are large and have little liquidity because this is linked to high levels of risk management transparency. This knowledge can offer investors an important direction for assessing possible risks and transparency in risk management within the insurance sector framework. The study recommends that the governments of Palestine and Jordan enact laws requiring risk management disclosure according to the ISO 31000:2018 standard, especially in the insurance industry.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the literature by illuminating the relationship between firm size, liquidity and risk management disclosure in insurance companies operating in Jordan and Palestine. Therefore, investors should choose large, relatively liquid companies with strong risk management disclosure. This study offers theoretical insights that may be used as a guide for other research, improving the understanding of the variables influencing risk management disclosure in insurance companies and advancing scientific understanding.
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Mohammad Talalwa, Nemer Badwan and Mohammad Sleimi
The purpose of this study is to identify the impact of accounting disclosures and corporate governance on stock returns for firms listed on the Palestine Stock Exchange (PEX…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to identify the impact of accounting disclosures and corporate governance on stock returns for firms listed on the Palestine Stock Exchange (PEX) during the period from 2014 to 2022.
Design/methodology/approach
Data from the quarterly reports published to the Palestine Stock Exchange from 2014 to 2022 were used in this analysis. The study makes use of secondary financial data from 52 firms in the insurance, banking, investments, services and manufacturing industries. The study used three-panel regression techniques to assess the research’s assumptions.
Findings
Our findings suggest that investors and stakeholders do not take accounting disclosures and corporate governance into consideration when evaluating stocks since they have a large and detrimental influence on stock returns. Our findings suggest that firms with financing restrictions would more clearly experience the negative effects of accounting disclosures and corporate governance on stock returns.
Research limitations/implications
This study has some limitations, including the fact that it only looked at one context and one Middle Eastern country and that its method of obtaining primary data relied primarily on disclosures, corporate governance, financial reports and secondary data. In addition to the fact that there is data that we were not able to collect due to complete confidentiality and non-disclosure. The main limitation is that the sample size of this study is small due to the limited number of listed firms on the (PEX).
Practical implications
This paper provides some significant managerial implications for policymakers, regulators and investors. The regulatory agencies, authorities, businesses and investors can benefit from the management implications of this study. Accounting disclosure activities and corporate governance could have benefits. These procedures still need to be effectively incorporated into stock valuations. Government agencies should require businesses to reveal more complex information while lowering the percentage of indirect data they provide.
Originality/value
This study provides significant insights and implications for regulatory authorities, decision-makers and investors. This study contributes to the literature by evaluating the link between accounting disclosures and corporate governance and stock returns and determining if this relationship is subject to financing restrictions using a database of Palestinian firms registered on the (PEX). Governance indicators and accounting disclosures have a significant increase in the application of governance elements in companies listed on the (PEX) during the study period, which indicates that accounting disclosures and corporate governance have a strong impact on stock returns.
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Suhaib Al-Khazaleh, Nemer Badwan, Ihab Qubbaj, Safa Qasem and Mohammad Sleimi
The purpose of this paper is to compare salaries, wages and foreign direct investment (FDI) while focusing on Palestine and Jordan. The world development indicators (WDI) time…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to compare salaries, wages and foreign direct investment (FDI) while focusing on Palestine and Jordan. The world development indicators (WDI) time series data, which spans the years 2000–2020, was used in this investigation.
Design/methodology/approach
The study used time-series data from 2000 to 2020, which was collected from the (WDI). This research's methodology is driven by the variables and data it uses, and the design is predicated on the fact that we gathered secondary data in addition to the national characteristics of Jordan and Palestine. The statistical approach of econometrics is used to construct linear techniques like regression models and null hypothesis testing. Econometrics is an additional method for predicting future trends in the economy.
Findings
The results demonstrate that FDI has a statistically significant and favourable effect on salaries and wages in Palestine and Jordan. The statistical impact of unemployment on wages and salaries is small, but it harms Palestine and Jordan. GDP per capita has a statistically significant effect on salaries and wages, although it does so in Jordan adversely and in Palestine positively. In Palestine, the labour force has a statistically substantial and favourable influence on wages and salaries; in Jordan, however, this impact is not as great. FDI boosts employment prospects when business owners, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders establish new ventures overseas.
Practical implications
The findings of this study have some policy implications. Investors must open new businesses abroad, and FDI increases possibilities and creates new employment. As a consequence, residents may earn more money and have more purchasing power, which will support the growth of the targeted economies in Jordan and Palestine. By enhancing the investment climate, the governments of Jordan and Palestine should encourage the flow of international direct investment. Low-technology companies and construction projects are more susceptible to the direct implications of FDI. To maximize the policy's effectiveness, both governments ought to devise specific measures to attract FDI to key economic sectors.
Originality/value
The study provides insight into how FDI enhances business opportunities when business owners, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders create new ventures abroad and locally within the two countries. This study contributes to the literature as it is considered the first study to address the impact of the relationship of FDI with wages and salaries in the Palestinian and Jordanian contexts. This study is also considered one of the very few studies that conducted empirical research from 2000 to 2020 to estimate the importance and impact of the relationship between FDI and wages or salaries.
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Mohammad Talalwa, Fu’ad Magableh and Nemer Badwan
The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of corporate governance structure corporate governance on a firm’s performance in the Palestinian business environment…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of corporate governance structure corporate governance on a firm’s performance in the Palestinian business environment between 2016 and 2023. The specific environment of the developing Palestinian economy is the main motivation and emphasis of this investigation.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were gathered from 49 financial and non-financial firms listed on the Palestine Stock Exchange between 2016 and 2023. While the random and fixed effects estimates were utilized to be the most suitable for this particular investigation, they were used to undertake the data analysis procedure. The study employed two-stage least squares (2SLS) to assess the robustness and correctness of data to bolster the findings and subsequent implications.
Findings
The findings show that the return on equity, a measure of corporate performance, was positively but not significantly impacted by the presence of women on the executive boards of Palestinian companies. This suggests that the variable in question had no bearing on the success of the firms. In terms of moderating influence, corporate governance structure had no bearing on the link between dual chief executives, institution ownership, government ownership, independent directors and firm performance. Family ownership and board size had negative, significant impacts on performance.
Research limitations/implications
The research limitations of this study are that it focuses exclusively on manufacturing firms listed on the Palestine Exchange (PEX) over a seven-year period, which limits its generalizability to other industries and regions. Furthermore, due to a lack of data, the model did not account for global diversity on boards of directors.
Practical implications
The findings of this research help managers understand how management structures impact business success and provide regulatory authorities with insights into gender diversity and corporate governance legislation in Palestine. It suggests enhancing company performance, competitiveness and capital acquisition by improving governance information quality, building investor confidence, raising standards and reforming governance systems.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the literature by enhancing the understanding of how corporate governance and gender diversity affect the financial performance of listed firms, addressing a research gap in the Palestinian market. It is one of the few studies examining company performance during political turmoil, specifically focusing on the increased role of women on Palestinian boards.
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Suhaib Al-Khazaleh, Dr Nemer Badwan, Ibrahim Eriqat and Zahra El Shlmani
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the linkage between stock markets in Middle Eastern countries before and during the COVID-19 pandemic by using daily and monthly data sets…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the linkage between stock markets in Middle Eastern countries before and during the COVID-19 pandemic by using daily and monthly data sets for the period from 2011 to 2021.
Design/methodology/approach
The multivariate BEKK-GARCH model was computed to evaluate the existence of non-linear linkage among Middle Eastern stock markets. A correlation approach was used in this study to determine the type of linear connectivity between Middle Eastern stock markets. The study used monthly and daily data sets covering the years 2011 to 2021 to investigate the linkage between stock returns and the volatility spillover between the stock markets in Palestine, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon, both before and during COVID-19. To understand the types of relationships between markets before and during COVID-19, the daily data set was split into two periods.
Findings
Results from the pre-COVID-19 suggest that the Syria stock market is not related to any stock market in the Middle East markets; the Palestine and Lebanon stock markets exhibit a weak relationship, but Jordan and Palestine stock markets are strongly linked. Conversely, results from COVID-19 evince a very strong bidirectional volatility spillover between Middle East stock markets. Overall, the results indicate the existence of increased linkage during the COVID-19.
Research limitations/implications
The data collection on a daily and monthly basis, both before and during COVID-19, presents certain limitations for the paper. Another limitation is that the data cannot be generalized to all other Middle Eastern countries; rather, the conclusions drawn can only be applied to these four countries. This is especially true if the scholars collected most of the necessary data but were unable to obtain certain data for various reasons.
Practical implications
These findings have implications for risk management, market regulation and the growth of local stock markets. Facilitating the growth of smaller, more specialized markets to improve integration with other Middle Eastern markets is one of the goals of the domestic stock market development policy. To ensure financial stability, Middle Eastern stock market linking policies should consider spillover risk and take steps to minimize it. Enhancing the range of investment opportunities accessible to shareholders and functioning as confidential risk-sharing mechanisms to facilitate improved risk management in Middle Eastern stock markets will not only significantly influence the mobilization of private capital to promote investment and local economic growth but also lay groundwork for integrated market platforms.
Originality/value
This paper adds to the body of literature by demonstrating the nature of the connections between these small markets and the larger markets in the Middle East region. Information from the smaller markets provides institutional insights that enhance the body of existing research, guide the formulation of evidence-based policies and advance financial literacy in these markets. This study contributes by comparing data from different stock markets to better understand the type and strength of the link and relationship between Middle Eastern stock markets, as well as any underlying or reinforcing factors that might have contributed to the relationship and the specific types of links that these markets shared prior and during COVID-19.
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Mustafa Faza', Nemer Badwan and Montaser Hamdan
This study aims to conduct a review and analysis of the literature on Shariah audit compliance by examining the difference between internal and external auditors, the scope of…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to conduct a review and analysis of the literature on Shariah audit compliance by examining the difference between internal and external auditors, the scope of internal Shariah audits and the qualification of Shariah auditors.
Design/methodology/approach
The current study used content analysis and the descriptive approach to achieve the main objective of the study. To ensure that Islamic Financial Institutions’ (IFIs) practices preserve Shariah principles and values when providing Shariah-compliant products and services, this audit will be used to supervise and monitor the operations of IFIs. The main goal of Shariah compliance auditing is to protect the interests of IFIs stakeholders, including account holders, shareholders, creditors, management and employees, as well as the general public while ensuring that the mechanisms of checks and balances in place are appropriate and tailored to the goals and missions of its establishment following the Maqasid Al-Shariah.
Findings
The findings of this study attempt to contribute to the body of knowledge surrounding Shariah audit compliance by advising IFIs on the value of Shariah compliance auditing in addressing the needs of its stakeholders. As a result, the benefits of Shariah compliance audits will be maximized, and future legislative changes will be implemented to reduce or completely remove the risk of Shariah’s failure to comply.
Practical implications
This research advises IFIs on the usefulness of Shariah compliance auditing in addressing the demands of its stakeholders to add to the body of knowledge on Shariah audit compliance. Moreover, all parties involved to take action to reduce the gap that will significantly affect stakeholders’ confidence, particularly concerning the Shariah compliance of the IFIs’ products and services on their operations and activities.
Originality/value
The advantages of Shariah compliance audits will thus be maximized, and future regulatory improvements will be made to lessen or eliminate the danger of Shariah noncompliance.
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Bakir Illahi Dar, Nemer Badwan and Jatinder Kumar
The purpose of this study is to present a bibliometric and network analysis that uses the Scopus and Dimension databases to provide new insights into the progression toward the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to present a bibliometric and network analysis that uses the Scopus and Dimension databases to provide new insights into the progression toward the study of sustainable economic development.
Design/methodology/approach
This analysis has been drawn on 665 papers published between 2015 and 2023. Bibliometric analysis characterizes a research topic by identifying leading nations, the most significant authors and expressive publications. Network analysis revealed keyword evolution over time, co-citation patterns and study grouping. Content analysis was used to identify major topic in the discipline, with a focus on their interrelationships. Each publication in the data set is briefly described, along with its methodological approach.
Findings
The results of this study show that green finance plays a major role in long-term economic growth, having a significant influence on the preservation of environmental quality, economic efficacy and a more comprehensive economic system. Financial technology also accelerates the transition to a carbon-neutral economy by enhancing the beneficial effects of green finance on aspects of the economic system and environmental conservation.
Research limitations/implications
The investigation is based only on Scopus and Dimensions-indexed journal articles. However, additional studies should incorporate publications from other reputable databases, such as Web of Science, PubMed and Science Direct, for the bibliometric analysis, so that the findings of the model analysis become more reliable and valid with examination of more documents. The visualization of similarity viewer was used for data analysis in the study, there is a scope for using other tools such as Biblioshiney and CitNet Explorer.
Practical implications
To support long-term economic growth, authorities should encourage Fintech companies to actively participate in various green finance initiatives and environmental conservation businesses. Financial managers should facilitate the integration of technology and green finance for financial services. It is important to encourage institutional and individual investors alike to look into more environmentally friendly ways to invest and save money. Policymakers should provide a platform for global awareness and government agencies should enhance their recommendations to state governments to increase the efficacy of green finance.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the literature by investigating the relationship between Fintech and green financing. This study holds significance for financial intermediaries, industrialists, investors and policymakers by providing insights into the integration of Fintech with green finance for sustainable development. These findings affirm the pivotal role of Fintech and green finance in fostering sustainable economic development. The novelty of the topic and the variety of publications in which it has been published demonstrate that sustainable economic development has piqued the interest of a wide range of areas.