Mohamed Ali Brahim Omri, Mounira Hamed-Sidhom and Fatma Wyème Ben Mrad Douagi
Henda Abdi, Henda Kacem and Mohamed Ali Brahim Omri
This paper aims to examine the factors influencing the extent of information disclosed on the companies’ websites in the Middle East region.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine the factors influencing the extent of information disclosed on the companies’ websites in the Middle East region.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses multiple regression models to examine the impact of some companies’ characteristics (company size, leverage, profitability, size of the audit firm, ownership concentration) on the extent of online disclosure. The study was conducted on 170 listed companies in seven countries (Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and Turkey). The website content was analyzed during the period from September 2015 to December 2015.
Findings
The results reveal that the most important factors influencing the level of Web-based disclosure are company size, leverage and the size of the audit firm.
Practical implications
The results of the study will help regulators to formulate policies about Web-based disclosure as they offer insights into the characteristics of those companies which do and do not meet investors’ demands for online information. Thereby, the regulators might expect that the Middle East companies engage in the online reporting to be larger, have higher debt levels and audited by a big-four audit firm.
Originality/value
This study, added to the existing literature by analyzing seven countries in the Middle East region, allows having a clearer idea on the online disclosure in this region as a whole, which has not been examined before. In this paper, to assess the information’s disclosure on the website, the study has been interested in all of the information presented on the websites: financial and non-financial information.
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Henda Kacem and Mohamed Ali Brahim Omri
This paper aims to investigate the question concerning whether tax incentives motivate companies to be socially responsible. This study, specifically, examines the impact of tax…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the question concerning whether tax incentives motivate companies to be socially responsible. This study, specifically, examines the impact of tax incentives for corporate social responsibility (CSR) on the societal practices of Tunisian companies.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses multiple regression models to assess the effectiveness of tax incentives for companies to take responsible actions. The study was conducted on 71 Tunisian companies operating in different sectors.
Findings
The results reveal that there is a negative and significant association between tax incentives and CSR practices. Therefore, there is an inefficient use of these types of incentives.
Practical implications
The results of the study have important implications for investors and regulatory basis wishing to enhance CSR by giving tax incentives. Investment in social responsibility may improve the corporate culture and reduce the conflict in companies.
Originality/value
The theoretical contributions relate mainly to the originality of the conceptual model developed, to the literature review and to the theoretical foundations mobilized. In fact, the originality of this research is justified by the scarcity of previous study dealing with the relationship between tax incentives and CSR. Thus, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the first to investigate the impact of tax incentives for CSR on CSR practices.
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Ameni Ghenimi, Hasna Chaibi and Mohamed Ali Brahim Omri
This paper aims to identify and analyze the similarities and differences of the liquidity risk determinants within conventional and Islamic banks.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to identify and analyze the similarities and differences of the liquidity risk determinants within conventional and Islamic banks.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses a dynamic panel data approach to examine the relationship between liquidity risk and a set of bank-specific and macroeconomic factors during 2005–2015, by selecting 27 Islamic banks and 49 conventional ones operating in the MENA region. More specifically, the dynamic two-step generalized method of moment estimator technique introduced by Arellano and Bond (1991) is applied.
Findings
The results suggest that the set of bank-specific variables influences the liquidity risk of both banking systems, while macroeconomic factors determine the liquidity risk of conventional banks. Islamic banks are not affected by macroeconomic determinants.
Practical implications
The research facilitates to the academicians, practitioners and bankers to have an alluded picture about liquidity risk determinants and their management. The findings can be used by bankers’ policy decision-makers to improve and enhance their consideration for liquidity risk management in both banking systems. Indeed, the study makes them aware to manage liquidity risk differently between conventional and Islamic banks, as the results reveal different liquidity risk determinants.
Originality/value
Compared to the abundant studies on the determinants of credit risk, researchers have not sufficiently addressed the factors influencing liquidity risk. Moreover, none of these few research studies has discussed and compared liquidity risk determinants within both banking systems operating in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This leads us to identify the similarities and differences between conventional and Islamic banks in the MENA region in respect of systematic and unsystematic determinants of the liquidity risk. The value is attributed to the increasing differentiation between Islamic and conventional banks. Islamic banks are characterized with a different liquidity structure distinguishing them from their conventional counterparts.
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Henda Abdi and Mohamed Ali Brahim Omri
The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of web - based disclosure on the cost of debt for the MENA region setting.
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of web - based disclosure on the cost of debt for the MENA region setting.
Design/methodology/approach
The sample of this paper consists of 237 MENA listed non-financial companies for the year 2017. Multiple regression models were used to examine the impact of online disclosure on the cost of debt. Content analysis is used to measure the extent of web-based disclosure.
Findings
The results reveal that there is a negative and significant association between the web-based disclosure and the company’s cost of debt. These results support the hypothesis of the economic utility of the information disclosed on the website for creditors in this region.
Practical implications
The results of the study have important implications for managers in the MENA region. It is necessary for managers to improve the company’s transparency through web-based disclosure. The companies must benefit from the different technologies offered by the Internet in order to offer to the creditors unlimited access to up to date information. In fact, web-based disclosure may mitigate the information asymmetry, the uncertainty of creditors and, consequently, reduces the cost of debt. 10; 10;Moreover, the results of the study provide empirical evidence for the advantages of voluntary web-based disclosure. The results highlight the importance to companies and regulators of understanding the benefits of using the website as a means of information disclosure. The regulators in MENA countries can rely on these results to establish suitable policies to improve the quality of web-based disclosure. The regulators need also to put in rules in relation to the online disclosure. In fact, an understanding of web-based disclosure is important for regulators and companies. Given the positive effect of online disclosure (the reduction of the cost of debt), knowledge about the economic consequences of web-based disclosure would enable companies in the MENA region to optimize their online disclosure policies.
Originality/value
This study, added to the existing literature by examining the consequences of online disclosure practices in MENA countries. Most previous studies conducted in this region were limited to analyzing the determinants of the company’s web-based disclosure. This paper would extend the literature on the online disclosure practices by investigating the association between these practices and the cost of debt in a developing economics: the MENA region. Previous studies were limited to testing this association only in developed countries.
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This study aims to investigate entropy generation through natural convection and examine heat transfer properties within a partially heated and cooled enclosure influenced by an…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate entropy generation through natural convection and examine heat transfer properties within a partially heated and cooled enclosure influenced by an angled magnetic field. The enclosure, subjected to consistent heat production or absorption, contains a porous medium saturated with a hybrid nanofluid blend of Cu-Fe3O4 and MoS2-Fe3O4.
Design/methodology/approach
The temperature and velocity equations are converted to a dimensionless form using suitable non-dimensional quantities, adhering to the imposed constraints. To solve these transformed dimensionless equations, the finite-difference method, based on the MAC (Marker and Cell) technique, is used. Comprehensive numerical simulations address various control parameters, including nanoparticle volume fraction, Rayleigh number, heat source or sink, Darcy number, Hartmann number and slit position. The results are illustrated through streamlines, isotherms, average Nusselt numbers and entropy generation plots, offering a clear visualization of the impact of these parameters across different scenarios.
Findings
Results obtained show that the Cu-Fe3O4hybrid nanofluid exhibits higher entropy generation than the MoS2-Fe3O4 hybrid nanofluid when comparing them at a Rayleigh number of 106 and a Darcy number of 10–1. The MoS2 hybrid nanofluid demonstrates a low permeability, as evidenced by an average Darcy number of 10–3, in comparison to the Cu hybrid nanofluid. The isothermal contours for a Rayleigh number of 104are positioned parallel to the vertical walls. Additionally, the quantity of each isotherm contour adjacent to the hot wall is being monitored. The Cu and MoS2 nanoparticles exhibit the highest average entropy generation at a Rayleigh number of 105 and a Darcy number of 10–1, respectively. When a uniform heat sink is present, the temperature gradient in the central part of the cavity decreases. In contrast, the absence of a heat source or sink leads to a more intense temperature distribution within the cavity. This differs significantly from the scenario where a uniform heat sink regulates the temperature.
Originality/value
The originality of this study is to examine the generation of entropy in natural convection within a partially heated and cooled enclosure that contains hybrid nanofluids. Partially heated corners are essential for optimizing heat transfer in a wide range of industrial applications. This enhancement is achieved by increasing the surface area, which improves convective heat transfer. These diverse applications encompass fields such as chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, surface research, energy production and heat recovery processes. Researchers have been working on improving the precision of heated and cold corners using various methods, such as numerical, experimental and analytical approaches. These efforts aim to enhance the broad utility of these corners further.