Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to show how research on knowledge‐based economy (KBE) has increased noticeably in recent years. However, while some literature is available…
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to show how research on knowledge‐based economy (KBE) has increased noticeably in recent years. However, while some literature is available on construct model and validity analysis, little information is available on causal model. Design/methodology/approach – This work used the Knowledge Assessment Scorecards of World Bank, applying the linear structural relation model to address the causal model of knowledge‐based economy. Findings – The results found that an open innovation system was the key to the knowledge‐based economy competitiveness, and the effective information technology and excellent human resources were over the economic environment. Research limitations/implications – This work is a cross sectional analysis that considers the causality between different KBE endowments. However, focusing on specific group by longitudinal analysis should be further considered. Moreover, this work addresses the causality between different KBE endowments; however, the proposed model did not compare the differences between the different countries, regions, and socioeconomics. Practical implications – This work suggests that every country should construct an open national innovations system, and that not only focuses on the participated public and private sectors but also expands to relative economic structure, regime, and various social cooperation networks that help effectively improve collective learning and knowledge innovation. Originality/value – This work used the 2005 KAS comprising a set of 80 structural and qualitative variables that benchmark how an economy compares with its neighbors, competitors, or countries. The comparison is undertaken for a group of 132 countries that include almost all of OECD economies and about 90 developing countries. Moreover, this work used the path analysis with observed variables (PA‐OV) model under the LISREL to address the causality between different KBE endowments. Overall, this work proposed some important conclusions and suggestions.
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Pei-Ju Wu, Mu-Chen Chen and Chih-Kai Tsau
Cargo loss has been a major issue in logistics management. However, few studies have tackled the issue of cargo loss severity via business analytics. Hence, the purpose of this…
Abstract
Purpose
Cargo loss has been a major issue in logistics management. However, few studies have tackled the issue of cargo loss severity via business analytics. Hence, the purpose of this paper is to provide guidance about how to retrieve valuable information from logistics data and to develop cargo loss mitigation strategies for logistics risk management.
Design/methodology/approach
This study proposes a research design of business analytics to scrutinize the causes of cargo loss severity.
Findings
The empirical results of the decision tree analytics reveal that transit types, product categories, and shipping destinations are key factors behind cargo loss severity. Furthermore, strategies for cargo loss prevention were developed.
Research limitations/implications
The proposed framework of cargo loss analytics provides a research foundation for logistics risk management.
Practical implications
Companies with logistics data can utilize the proposed business analytics to identify cargo loss factors, while companies without logistics data can employ the proposed cargo loss mitigation strategies in their logistics systems.
Originality/value
This pioneer empirical study scrutinizes the critical cargo loss issues of cargo damage, cargo theft, and cargo liability insurance through exploiting real cargo loss data.
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Ruey-Ching Lin, Tsung-Kang Chen, Yi-Jie Tseng and Chih-Kai Chang
The purpose of this study is to explore whether pension plan reporting readability affects earnings volatility. Moreover, as SFAS 158 requires firms to fully recognize their…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to explore whether pension plan reporting readability affects earnings volatility. Moreover, as SFAS 158 requires firms to fully recognize their funded status on the balance sheet, the firms’ pension liabilities (inside debts) and financing ability have the corresponding change. This study further investigates whether pension plan reporting readability affects earnings volatility from the SFAS 158 and funded status perspectives.
Design/methodology/approach
This study follows Li (2008), Lehavy et al. (2011) and Rennekamp (2012) to use the FOG and SMOG variables as the readability proxies and investigates whether pension plan reporting readability affects earnings volatility from the perspectives of inside debts and SFAS 158 by using a sample of 3,077 American firms from the year 2006 to 2009.
Findings
Empirical results of this study show that firms with low readability of pension plan reporting have high earnings volatility, revealing that less readable pension plan reporting increases the assessed variance of a firm’s inside debts, financing flexibility, investment ability and therefore profitability. In addition, the implement of SFAS 158 enhances the effect of pension plan reporting readability on earnings volatility. Moreover, the authors also find that the funded status plays a moderating role for the effect of pension plan reporting readability on earnings volatility. Finally, the results are robust to endogeneity issue.
Research limitations/implications
Earnings stability measures how consistently earnings have been generated over time, and its importance has been acknowledged by most firms. For example, prior literature has documented that manipulating financial reporting to smooth earnings is becoming a business common practice (Burgstahler et al., 2006; Liu and Espahbodi, 2014). The empirical results suggest that pension plan reporting readability is a significant determinant of earnings volatility.
Practical implications
As a practical implication, this study points out that manipulations of the pension reporting readability are not costless. It incurs the costs of earnings instability.
Social implications
This study indicates that the issuance of SFAS 158 makes firms more likely to engage in pension plan readability manipulation. As a result, it has policy implication that the regulator should consider how the policy change alters the firm financial reporting behavior.
Originality/value
The empirical results suggest that firms may be more likely to engage in obfuscating pension plan disclosure after FASB’s issuance of SFAS 158. This would further increase outside investors’ assessed variance for inside debts and earnings volatilities. When policymakers require firms to recognize their funded status in statement of financial position, they should consider the costs or benefits that the firm manager face and, therefore, how this policy change alter the firm financial reporting behavior.