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There is growing interest in the economic evaluation of public health prevention initiatives and increasing government awareness of the societal costs of conduct disorder in early childhood. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the cost-effectiveness of the Incredible Years (IY) BASIC parenting programme compared with a six-month waiting list control.

Cost-effectiveness analysis alongside a pragmatic randomised controlled trial of a group-parenting programme. The primary outcome measure was the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), a measure of child behaviour.

The IY programme was found to have a high probability of being cost-effective, shifting an additional 23 per cent of children from above the clinical concern to below the cut-off on the SDQ compared to the control group, at a cost ranging from £1612-£2418 per child, depending on the number of children in the group.

The positive findings of this study have led to ongoing implementation of the IY programme and is therefore an example of commitment to evidence-based service provision and investment in prevention initiatives.

No one working at a library reference desk needs to be convinced of the importance of indexes to local newspapers. With the tremendous interest in genealogy and local history, both public and academic librarians are inundated with questions easily answered if a local newspaper index is available.

The paper examines how earnings transparency affects dividend payouts for Indian firms. The authors also explore the channels through which earnings transparency affects dividend payouts.

The authors employ panel data estimation with fixed effects to examine the role of earnings transparency on dividend payouts. The authors also use path analysis to explore causation. The paper uses a sample of more than 2000 Indian listed firms, over the period 2001–2016.

The authors report that firms showing grater earning transparency pay more cash dividend. Their results do not support the signaling hypothesis about the dividend. However, these results provide explicit support to the theory that corporate dividend policy is an outcome of information asymmetry. Moreover, the path analysis reveals the effect of earnings transparency on corporate payout through the financial constraint channel. The results are robust to idiosyncratic controls; alternate measures of payout; alternate models; endogeneity concerns; and the alternate channel of returning money to stockholders.

Managers should also examine earnings transparency while formulating an adequate dividend policy for their firms. This study also helps investors to identify dividend-paying stocks.

This study particularly contributes to the literature examining the effect of earnings quality on dividend payouts through its effect on financial constraints. We, therefore, connect two streams of research that contemplate the relation between accounting-based information variables and dividend payouts and the relationship between financial constraints and dividend payouts. Moreover, using path analysis uniquely, the authors provide evidence on the relative importance of both the direct and the indirect link.

The purpose of this paper is to extend previous research by empirically investigating the effect of the disclosure quality (DQ) on the magnitude of the earnings management (EM) among Jordanian companies listed in Amman Stock Exchange.

This study uses the cross-sectional version of the modified Jones model, where discretionary accruals are used for the EM proxy. Generalized least square regression is used to examine the influence of the DQ on EM for a sample of 86 industrial companies in the period of the years from 2007 to 2010.

The result produces evidence on the negative association between DQ and EM. The result also evidences the view that as the level of the disclosure is high, the magnitude of the EM reduces and, in turn, increases the financial reporting quality.

As there are relatively few researches conducted in this area specifically among Jordanian firms, the study broadens the scope by providing empirical evidence of the relationship between DQ and EM. This paper is the first empirical study to investigate the impact of the DQ on EM among Jordanian companies.

The purpose of the study is to examine the value-based performance of firms in construction sector in India using Tobin's Q and Market Capitalization (MCAP) and then determine their significant financial drivers.

The study is based on data from 87 firms engaged in infrastructure, real estate, industrial construction and allied areas in India over a study period of 10 years. Three distinct forms of panel regression models have been developed using Tobin's Q and MCAP as dependent variables. The models developed are using Baltagi's (1981) Error Component 2SLS, Varadharajan-Krishnakumar's (1987) Generalized 2SLS and Arellano – Bower/Blundell – Bond's (1991) dynamic panel.

The study found that MCAP is a better suited value-based performance measure for construction sector firms in India. The study further reports that the age of the firm, profit after tax, investment in research and development, dividends, leverage and net fixed asset are significant positive drivers, whereas cash flow is a significant negative driver.

The study is limited to a geographic location; therefore, the findings of this study cannot be generalized.

As MCAP is a better suited value-based performance measure of a firm in the construction sector, managers should focus on improving profitability, higher research and development activities, higher dividends and higher expenditures on net fixed assets for improvement.

This is an original attempt to examine the value-based performance of firms in the construction sector in India using Tobin's Q and MCAP.

This paper aims to provide more insights into the standard of corporate governance in New Zealand. The study intends to uncover how a small country with a well-developed economy with a good system of law and order, good institutional set up and law enforcements and implements the principles contained in the FMA’s corporate governance guidelines in practice.

The study is a mixed study one where it employs case study content analysis and augmented by conducting interviews. Large companies are selected to ascertain the level of compliance of NZ companies towards their obligations to report on corporate governance practices within the organisation. At the first stage, the study uses content analysis and looks at contents of company annual reports and publications on websites to determine whether they had disclosed as intended by New Zealand’s corporate governance guidelines.

The study found that a high compliance was recorded in areas such as board composition and board committees and low compliance recorded in areas involving costly implementation or when the issue is sensitive such as disclosures regarding remuneration details of directors and what non-audit work was undertaken and whether it compromises auditor independence. Being a small country, NZ has performed well in attracting foreign investment due to its strong tradition of law enforcement and respect for regulations. With greater awareness of the importance of corporate governance to investors, companies may see the benefit of greater compliance with the corporate governance guidelines. This is in line with the stakeholder theory and resource dependency theory where companies will voluntarily disclose information on corporate governance, social and environmental performance over and above mandatory requirements to appease and manage their stakeholders.

The sample size of this study represents 3 per cent of total listed companies in New Zealand, but the sample is approximately 10 per cent of local NZ listed companies (i.e. not dual listed in Australia). There are 36 large companies in the New Zealand stock market with market capitalisation of 1 billion and above. In addition, the companies selected for this study are well-known in New Zealand, and it is acknowledged that this can be a source of bias in my analysis.

As was revealed during the interviews with company’s senior officials, Australian companies have achieved a higher level of compliance with the code of corporate governance. In this regard, New Zealand will have to step up and follow Australia’s lead to ensure greater compliance with the New Zealand corporate governance principles and guidelines. It would be in the best interest of the company’s stakeholders if full compliance is achieved.

Studies on the level of compliance by New Zealand companies on their obligations to meet the full extent of disclosures as stipulated by the New Zealand corporate governance guidelines are rare. This study aims to ascertain the standard of corporate governance reporting in New Zealand and the company’s seriousness to comply or attempt to meet the requirements in the seven stipulated principles.

The authors examine whether the duration of performance shortfall in the firm impacts the real earnings management.

We find the results in the context of India, an emerging market, on a large sample set of 15,011 firm-year observations during 2006–2020.

We find that when managers continue to face short-term performance pressures, they shift their focus away from aspirational levels, prefer not to engage in strategic actions to address performance shortfalls and engage in opaque actions of real earnings management. We discover that this baseline relationship for business group-affiliated firms is stronger; however, the moderation effect is weaker under stronger corporate governance and the involvement of high-quality auditors.

The study suggests that the governing council of firms, such as the board of directors, must pay additional attention to underperforming firms, as a longer duration of performance shortfall may induce firms to engage in earnings management, which is detrimental to the long-term viability of organizations. Government authorities should pay close attention to the choices made by managers, especially when their performance is subpar. Furthermore, the government has the option to implement policies or offer financial assistance, such as special funds, to incentivize companies to refrain from participating in manipulation activities.

This is the first study to examine corporate misconduct through the lens of the “threat rigidity hypothesis,” which has significant implications for the management literature.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between CEO pay slice (CPS) – the fraction of the top five executive directors’ total compensation that is captured by the chief executive officer (CEO) – and the value of firms in the UK. Specifically, this paper examines whether CPS alters the effectiveness of board performance by influencing cooperation and cohesiveness among its members.

This paper analyses a large sample of non-financial companies listed on the London Stock Exchange from 1997 to 2010. The empirical methodology includes the analysis of panel data by using a dynamic generalized method of moments estimator.

The evidence supports social comparison theory and demonstrates that high CPS is likely to impact negatively on executive team’s spirit and motivation. However, the tournament argument is supported when a subsample of companies with CEOs close to retirement age has been analysed. In addition, the findings suggest that companies perform better after the introduction of non-binding say on pay law in the UK in 2002.

The results have major implications for the on-going debate on how to reform executive remuneration, and highlight the importance of considering remuneration issues at the board level, supporting the principles of UK Corporate Governance Code (Financial Reporting Council, 2010).

The results indicate that CPS can provide a useful tool for research on firm performance, and that its relation with the value of firms is an important issue to be considered in the UK context. The findings also highlight the importance of considering board-wide remuneration issues without narrowing them down simply to the details of CEO compensation.

Corporate governance across small and medium enterprises (SMEs) is undergoing unremitting changes, primarily due to the listing of SMEs on SME exchanges. The changing aspects of governance may influence the financial performance of SMEs. This paper examines how corporate governance influences the financial performance of listed SMEs in the context of developing economies like India. Ownership concentration (promoters' holding) and information disclosures measure corporate governance in this examination.

The sample for this study includes 88 listed SMEs from the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) SME platform in India. The data are collected for the period between 2018 and 2020. The study employs panel data analysis. The fixed effects model, coupled with the computation of cluster robust standard errors, is used to test the relationship between variables.

The results demonstrate that ownership concentration is not significantly related to financial performance. Further, information disclosures are inversely significant for financial performance. The results show that agency problems and information asymmetry plague the sampled firms. Further, the results of the study are indicative of inefficiencies in the governance structures of SMEs. Thus, it is evident that listed SMEs fail to reap the benefits of corporate governance.

The study's findings should enlighten SME owners and managers on the benefits of corporate governance for SMEs. This is a pressing need at current times as the listing of SMEs is shifting the landscape of SME governance. Today, all firms, including SMEs, are expected to adopt and maintain near internationally benchmarked corporate governance standards. Secondly, the study's implications on how the ownership and information disclosures can be used to influence the financial outcomes of SMEs will benefit the overall business ecosystem. The policyholders and academics can use this study to boost the regulations and research in line with each other.

Reforming monitoring mechanisms of firm activities and restructuring disclosure practices are essential for SMEs to produce better financial outcomes. The true benefits of corporate governance cannot be realized without attention to financial performance. The study is relevant to practitioners, lawmakers and academics to advance corporate governance for SMEs.

This study aims to determine impact of Intellectual Capital (IC) and its constituents in impacting Financial Competitiveness (FC) of Standard & Poor’s Bombay Stock Exchange Healthcare index constituents for years 2013–2023.

This research work used Modified Value-Added Intellectual Coefficients model to gauge IC, whilst an index has been used to apprehend alterations in FC of enterprises. Generalised method of moments (GMM) model was used to determine association between IC and FC of these enterprises.

Results demonstrated that IC in entirety had a notable role in FC of healthcare firms. Results showed that human and relational capital had an affirmative role, while structural capital, capital employed and innovation capital had adverse roles in competitiveness.

This study provides important contributions to academicians, researchers, management, directors and policymakers by equipping them for preparing a roadmap for future performances. Outcomes imply that IC and its segments must be efficaciously managed in the highly knowledge intensive and intricately interconnected healthcare sector, to establish greater competitive acumen thereby rendering improved and superior results.

This work focusses in lesser researched Indian healthcare sector, scrutinising association between IC efficiency and FC for years 2013–2023.