Hugo Benedetti, Ehsan Nikbakht, Sayan Sarkar and Andrew Craig Spieler
The purpose of this paper is to develop conceptual designs for blockchain implementations aimed at reducing corporate fraud. The proposed framework consists of different levels of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop conceptual designs for blockchain implementations aimed at reducing corporate fraud. The proposed framework consists of different levels of implementation with specific examples for each level.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper uses a multi-level framework to highlight the properties of blockchain technology as suitable for reducing corporate fraud. The five levels of technological complexity designed for this research include information storage, information flow, information processing, information enhancement and information and financial integration. Specific cases of corporate fraud are discussed to complement the proposed methodology.
Findings
The potential ability to limit fraud and increase transparency could greatly improve faith in financial reporting. These benefits accrue to all capital market participants. The blockchain infrastructure can significantly improve the existing monitoring system and provide value added in detecting, deterring, and documenting possible fraud.
Originality/value
The paper contributes to the growing field on corporate fraud and blockchain technology. The paper is novel in the implementation of the nascent blockchain methods to detect and deter fraud at the organizational level. The proposed five conceptual levels provide practical use.
Details
Keywords
Mohammad A. Karim and Sayan Sarkar
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of auditors in financial statement readability. Using a simple proxy for financial statement obfuscation (number of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of auditors in financial statement readability. Using a simple proxy for financial statement obfuscation (number of footnotes), the authors examine the relationship between auditor quality, financial statement readability and earnings persistence.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors use regression analysis to test two hypotheses. In the first hypothesis, the authors investigate whether firms audited by Big 4 auditors have a lower number of footnotes than firms audited by non-Big 4 auditors. In the second hypothesis, the authors show that the firms with more footnotes have less earning persistence in comparison to the firms with less footnotes.
Findings
The authors find that firms audited by Big 4 auditors have fewer footnotes than firms audited by non-Big 4 auditors, and a larger number of footnotes reduces earnings persistence one-year and two-years ahead of the financial statement, although a larger number of footnotes does not reduce earning persistence when firms use Big 4 auditors. Overall, firms that use non-Big 4 auditors tend to obfuscate annual reports by using more footnotes and, in turn, reduce earnings persistence.
Originality/value
This is the first paper that has used number of footnotes in 10Ks as a proxy for financial statement readability. This paper shows how auditors’ reputation plays a key role in the readability of the financial statement. Prior studies related to readability have ignored the importance of auditors’ quality with respect to the readability of financial statements.
Details
Keywords
Abstract
Details
Keywords
H. Kent Baker, Ehsan Nikbakht and Sean Stein Smith
Blockchain is an emerging technology that started in the cryptocurrency sphere with bitcoin but expanded to include numerous applications. This chapter provides an overview of the…
Abstract
Blockchain is an emerging technology that started in the cryptocurrency sphere with bitcoin but expanded to include numerous applications. This chapter provides an overview of the book. It begins by identifying the three main components of a blockchain. Next, it discusses the book's purpose, distinguishing features, and its intended audience. The chapter then outlines the book's structure, consisting of 22 chapters divided into four main parts. It offers a brief synopsis of each section and chapter. Finally, it ends with a summary and conclusions.
Details
Keywords
Erik Winell, John Armbrecht, Erik Lundberg and Jonas Nilsson
The purpose of this paper is to develop a holistic understanding of extant studies addressing the impact of commercialization on fans of elite sports.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop a holistic understanding of extant studies addressing the impact of commercialization on fans of elite sports.
Design/methodology/approach
In doing this, the authors performed a structured review of 42 academic articles published between 1992 and 2020 that all focus on how fans respond and are affected by the commercialization of elite sports.
Findings
The structured review shows that the impacts of commercialization on fans relate to four different themes. These are (1) fan identity, (2) fan attitudes, (3) fan emotions and (4) fan behaviours. However, the analysis also shows that research within each category is largely scattered, and more research within each category is needed.
Originality/value
The paper highlights the complex and dynamic nature of commercialization. It presents a research agenda for future research and emphasizes a need to integrate the interests of several stakeholders when managing the impacts of elite sport commercialization.
Details
Keywords
Sayan Chakraborty and Sarada Prasad Sarmah
India has the largest public distribution system (PDS) in the world, working through over five million fair price shops (FPS) to distribute food grains among its beneficiaries at…
Abstract
Purpose
India has the largest public distribution system (PDS) in the world, working through over five million fair price shops (FPS) to distribute food grains among its beneficiaries at a subsidized rate. In this paper, the authors study the inventory system of Indian FPS. The system involves a distributor, who is solely responsible for the replenishment of the FPS. In a real-world scenario, the distributor is subjected to random supply and transportation disruptions. The purpose of this paper is to investigate and minimize the impacts of such disruptions.
Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, the authors adopt a simulation-based technique to explore the impacts of various traits of disruptions like frequency and duration on the FPS inventory system. A simulation model for the Indian FPS is developed and the impacts of disruptions are investigated by a case study.
Findings
The authors use a simulation-based optimization technique to suggest a simple managerial change that can lead to a minimization of inventory shortage up to 60 per cent and system cost up to 21 per cent over the existing practice.
Originality/value
The present study addresses the FPS inventory system of Indian PDS, which is by its nature unique and has not been considered by any other previous literature. The findings of this study will be of particular interest to the policy-makers to build a more robust PDS in India.