J. Risk Financial Manag., Volume 15, Issue 5 (May 2022) – 44 articles

This study investigates the relationship between founding family ownership and firm performance in the Italian stock market. Making use of a precise definition of Founding family ownership factor, an empirical analysis on the stock monthly returns has been carried out, from an investor’s point of view facing an asset allocation problem. Portfolios built on the basis of the Founding family factor show superior returns with respect to both a benchmark index and a portfolio strategy based on alternative (non-family-owned) firms on the market. Furthermore, there is evidence that an active role of family in the company governance, at least in Italy, may be beneficial for the superior performance of the Founding family portfolio. The results may suggest that the Founding family feature deserves attention in asset allocation. Full article

This paper uses simulation-based portfolio optimization to mitigate the left tail risk of the portfolio. The contribution is twofold. (i) We propose the Markov regime-switching GARCH model with multivariate normal tempered stable innovation (MRS-MNTS-GARCH) to accommodate fat tails, volatility clustering and regime switch. The volatility of each asset independently follows the regime-switch GARCH model, while the correlation of joint innovation of the GARCH models follows the Hidden Markov Model. (ii) We use tail risk measures, namely conditional value-at-risk (CVaR) and conditional drawdown-at-risk (CDaR), in the portfolio optimization. The optimization is performed with the sample paths simulated by the MRS-MNTS-GARCH model. We conduct an empirical study on the performance of optimal portfolios. Out-of-sample tests show that the optimal portfolios with tail measures outperform the optimal portfolio with standard deviation measure and the equally weighted portfolio in various performance measures. The out-of-sample performance of the optimal portfolios is also more robust to suboptimality on the efficient frontier. Full article

I investigated how people’s childhood experiences of involvement in team sports helped them develop non-cognitive skills, which later prompted them to make charitable donations to disaster victims. I independently collected individual-level data from approximately 7000 observations in 2016. The instrumental variable (IV) method was used for the estimations. In the specification of the IV model, sporting experience and informal education in childhood were used as exogenous IV. I found that (1) sporting experiences cause people to have positive subjective views of reciprocity, (2) team sports experience has a larger effect on people than individual sports experience, and (3) the above lead people to donate to disaster victims of enormous disasters such as the Great East Japan Earthquake. Full article

The purpose of this concept paper is to suggest a theoretical framework for understanding the post-privatisation performance of statutory bodies, subject to government shareholding. We identify a suitable model, from the analytical economics literature. We argue that this model is a manifestation of agency theory. Our proposed framework for using this theory is replete with examples from Malaysia. We conclude that in Malaysia, the principal determinant of whether government subsidisation enhances or erodes shareholder wealth is the level of government shareholding. We also predict that in Malaysia, the relation between shareholder wealth and government shareholding follows an “inverted U” shape. However, the turning is likely to vary, cross-sectionally and temporally. We believe that the framework presented within this paper can be used to understand empirical results reported by other Malaysian studies into the shareholder wealth effects arising from economic policies featuring close co-operation between the public and private sectors. Full article

Since 2020, supply chain disruptions have emerged as an ever-present challenge. This research provides a glimpse into the organizational structures that develop supply chain resilience and market performance amid continuous supply chain disruptions. Utilizing psychosomatic variables and empirical modeling, a model was constructed through a review of extant literature and tested with PLS-SEM analysis. Uniquely, this research model is framed with the stimulus–organism–response model; thus, placing a firm within the context of a tumultuous environment where stimuli elicit responses from an organization that behaves as an organism. Results demonstrate that organizational culture plays a critical role in developing supply chain resilience amid supply chain dynamism. Market performance was also developed but only through supply chain resilience; supply chain disruption orientation alone did not improve market performance. Mediation effects highlight the importance of supply chain disruption orientation, a strategic orientation that cements an organization’s ability to develop supply chain resilience. Full article

The post-crisis liquidity framework improves banking stability by imposing stricter liquidity requirements. However, consistent bank performance continues to be an essential factor in achieving this goal. This study examines the impact of the liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) on the profitability and non-performing assets (NPAs) of Indian banks using annual data from 2010 to 2019. By applying the dynamic panel data regression technique, we found that compliance with the minimum level of the LCR reduces the net interest margins (NIMs) of banks due to a narrower interest spread, thereby impacting banks profitability. Moreover, the NPAs of the banks tend to grow with an increase in LCR. The study’s findings have far-reaching implications for policymakers. Indian policymakers/regulators need to understand the strategies used by banks to meet liquidity standards and, if necessary, revisit the policy framework to achieve better compliance results. The study’s framework establishes a foundation that can be used for conducting similar research in other complex geographies such as India. Full article

The purpose of the paper is to develop a risk measure in the form of a risk index and a governance index as an indicator of the quality of governance structure. Using the Delphi technique, two indices are developed (risk index and corporate governance index (CGI)); subsequently, using the 10-year (2005–2015) data of top Indian Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and diff-GMM regression (to deal with endogeneity), indices have been validated. Though the data set may appear old, it has only been used to test the risk index and analyze the results. Empirical evidence on indices indicates that Indian PSUs have ‘moderate’ risk levels and ample scope for improvement in their governance structure. Further, a positive relation between governance index and returns and negative relation between risk index and returns lend credence to the indices developed in the study. Notably, the governance index appears to be a moderating variable in the relationship between risk and return. It is perhaps the first study to put forth a comprehensive measure of risk to measure risk levels of PSUs and prescribe a measure of the quality of governance structure. While constructing the CGI, certain non-compliances were observed, even in terms of mandatory requirements, such as the proportion of PSUs may take independent directors. The new datasets may further check for compliance and its effect on the results. Such infringements call for stringent penal provisions and better monitoring of PSUs. Further, if the normative frameworks are adhered to as per the study by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), more effective and efficient decisions with lower risks, and hassle-free management resulting in better return on assets and return on equity. Full article

This paper investigates the relationship between legal origin and banks’ risk-taking behavior. We employ GMM to study a sample of both Islamic and conventional banks from 14 dual banking economies from 2005–2018. Our findings can be summarized as follows: (a) bank risk-taking and legal origin are negatively related in our sample countries, (b) Islamic banks are more stable in English law (common) countries, and (c) bank regulations have a differential effect on Islamic and the conventional banks. Our overall findings align with the dark side of the legal framework, indicating a robust legal framework to encourage bank risk-taking. The results have several implications for shareholders, regulators, and other key stakeholders. Full article

Using techniques from deep learning, we show that neural networks can be trained successfully to replicate the modified payoff functions that were first derived in the context of partial hedging by Föllmer and Leukert. Not only does this approach better accommodate the realistic setting of hedging in discrete time, it also allows for the inclusion of transaction costs as well as general market dynamics. It needs to be noted that, without further modifications, the approach works only if the risk aversion is beyond a certain level. Full article

This paper aims to propose reforms to develop the Islamic derivatives transactions in Indonesia’s over-the-counter (OTC) market. It is argued that the use of derivatives instruments is considered non-sharia compliant by the National Sharia Board (NSB) of the Indonesian Council of Ulama. However, other Ulamas had adopted a different approach in discussing the issues of derivatives contracts. Standard doctrinal and comparative approaches are employed in this discursive qualitative analysis using an extensive review of the literature from primary and secondary sources to collect the data on Islamic derivatives in the OTC market. This research concludes with two proposals for Islamic derivatives in the OTC market in Indonesia; first, the use of musawamah (sale without revealing the cost) in the swap, al-khiyar (the right to make choice) in option, ju’alah (commission) in future contracts, and wa’ad (a promise) in option can further boost the investors in the OTC market. Second, the Islamic scholars should be softening towards the decision of using derivatives instruments in Indonesia. Such as in the case of the forward agreements, which should be exempted from non-sharia compliance, provided they are used solely for reducing risk due to necessity in al-tahawuth lil hajah al-massah (sharia-compliant genuine hedging needs). Full article

Anthropogenic climate change is accelerating, and severe and widespread consequences are expected in many areas. Although the insurance sector is not closely associated with any of the sustainability dimensions, expectations may change rapidly. Against this background, we analyze the role of insurers, especially in the property and casualty areas, in addressing the environmental and climate risk challenges and developing a truly sustainable, environmentally friendly business model—green insurance. Building on the Principles of Sustainable Insurance set by the United Nations, we develop a comprehensive roadmap along the insurance value chain for executive management to design their company’s sustainability efforts, with special focus on property and casualty. The roadmap indicates actions to be taken as well as metrics to be managed in product development, marketing and sales, risk management and underwriting and operations and claims management towards green insurance. The existing products, risk appetite and operational processes must be reviewed to support sustainability goals and include the full portfolio of activities, including claims. The time to act is now, the sustainability journey is complex and the proposed business model transformation should provide benefits for early movers. Full article

We study gender differences in risk-taking investment strategies in Defined Contribution (DC) Plans with the help of data from the US Federal Reserve Board’s Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF). By DC plans, we refer not only to employer-sponsored plans such as 401(k)s and 403(b)s, but also to Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and Roth and Keogh accounts. We suggest our own split of the SCF DC plans into risk-free and risky ones, and we build risky shares of total DC plans. We compare the risky shares of females and males in two different settings. In the first setting, we work with two samples of single people, and in the second setting we work with an extended SCF sample. In both settings, we conclude that there are no significant differences in the risky shares of total DC plans between (single) women and (single) men but that there are significant gender differences in risky IRAs and 401(k)s between (single) women and (single) men. We conclude with policy implications. Full article

We investigated the Granger causal relationship between the consumption of power both at the aggregate and sectoral level and economic growth in India using the frequency domain approach, which would help policy makers seek the efficient allocation of electricity via proper policy initiatives at different frequencies. We find that at the aggregate level, unidirectional causality runs from the total power consumption to economic growth, starting from the second up to the seventh quarter. In the sectoral context, the results are different. Since there is no causality between industrial power consumption and economic growth; therefore, an energy conservation policy can thus be implemented for the industrial sector. Moreover, since a bidirectional causality exists after 15 quarters for the commercial sector, a short-term policy but not an energy conservation policy could also be initiated for this sector. In the industrial and agricultural sectors, a promotional policy should be initiated because a unidirectional causality exists from sectoral power consumption to economic growth. Therefore, different and sector-specific policies would be more appropriate than a single policy for all power sectors in India in order to orient the efficient utilisation of power towards better economic development. Full article

Entrepreneurial, innovative and small- and medium-sized firms experience difficulties with raising funds using traditional debt and equity. Consequently, they are constantly looking for new strategies of financing. The latest inventions are crowdfunding and token issues. In contrast to traditional ways of raising funds these innovations: (1) use modern technology (online transactions, blockchain, etc.) much more actively; (2) are usually quicker in reaching potential investors/funders; (3) use more active network benefits such as, for example, a large number of interactions between investors/funders and between funders and firms. These changes are so significant that some experts list them among the top business inventions of the 21st century. This article provides a review of the growing number of theoretical papers in the areas of crowdfunding and token issues, compares their findings with empirical evidence and discusses directions for future research. The research shows that a large gap exists between the theoretical literature and empirical literature. Full article

Many people find it difficult to start and maintain a retirement savings plan. We show how nudges can be used both to encourage people to save enough to provide an acceptable standard of living in retirement and to draw down their accumulated pension fund to maximize retirement spending, without the risk of either running out of money or leaving unintended bequests. Networks can help too, particularly employer-based networks. However, the nudges and networks are more likely to be effective if they have legislative backing and support. Full article

The objective of this paper is to empirically examine the moderating effect of ownership structure on the relationship between systemic risk and corporate governance. It complements prior research by studying the relationship between the proportion of capital held by state institutions and systemic risk. It also examines the internal governance mechanisms that mitigate systemic risk. For this purpose, this research used a dataset consisting of 22 banks from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries (10 Islamic banks and 12 conventional banks) over the period 2004–2018. We used a three-stage least squares (3SLS) regression to test our research hypotheses. The findings revealed that the structure of the board of directors (BOD) reduced systemic risk in the banking sector. In particular, we provide evidence that board composition and board meetings negatively affect systematic risk. In addition, we provide empirical evidence that the state plays a key role in moderating the relationship between governance mechanisms and systemic risk. As such, our paper provides significant contributions to the governance and corporate finance literature. Full article

The popularity of the Non-Fungible Token (NFT) has risen rapidly since 2020, becoming one of the most popular applications in the Fintech field. However, there has so far been no attempt to perform a systematic review in this new area. Considering the items of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), this paper conducts a systematic review of the research work on NFT, published in journals indexed at the Web of Science and ScienceDirect until April 2022. The results reveal that there are 13 published articles in the targeted journals and they are mainly focused on the asset pricing area. The research gaps identified in the literature also can be the opportunity for future study. Thus, we lay down the research agenda for the future in several important but unanswered fields related to asset pricing, tokenomics, and risk and regulation. Full article

High-risk stocks tend to provide lower returns than low-risk stocks on a risk-adjusted basis. These results (referred to as the low-beta anomaly) run counter to theoretical expectations. This paper examines the beta anomaly in one of the largest emerging markets in Africa, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). It employs both time-series and cross-sectional econometric techniques to analyze the risk–return relationship implied by the CAPM, using data that span over 5 years and 220 companies. To check for robustness, the analysis period was extended to 10 years, and we also applied the Fama–French three-factor model. The findings suggest the existence of the beta anomaly and a negatively sloped SML, indicating that beta is not the only determinant of risk in the South African stock market. We also found positive beta–idiosyncratic volatility (IVOL) correlations. However, after controlling for IVOL and the adverse effects of COVID-19 for an extended study period, the beta anomaly disappeared. Full article

Startups contribute significantly to the economic development of a country. Despite their importance and promising future, they are extremely fragile, mainly for their lack of tangible and intangible resources. Since this can be obtained through an incubation process, business incubators (BIs) could have a significant impact on the survival rate of startups. Once defined their core structure and value proposition, there are other players, such as venture capitalists who could guarantee the funds necessary to make the startup’s business grow over time. Drawing on the resource-based view theory, this research explores whether some BIs could represent a certification of startup quality for venture capitalists (VCs). Specifically, we investigate whether some specific attributes of BIs increase the probability that a VC funds startups after being incubated; to this purpose, we carry out an experiment on a European sample of VCs. Results demonstrate that some characteristics of the BI can produce a sort of certification effect to the incubated startups, increasing the probability of being funded by VCs. Full article

The paper’s primary purpose is to better monitor shocks; therefore, reliable scientific methods should be used to predict, monitor, and implement those events. In this paper, tourism prices are studied as an economic, $I\left(2\right)$ and social phenomenon for better performance. The selection of inadequacies in price time series is analysed. The state-of-the-art proposed methodology step of nominal to real prices is based on monthly data using the cointegrated-vector-autoregressive model (CVAR). This is the key feature selection on time-series properties in the economy and supported software(s). An attempt at a CVAR model with five seasonally unadjusted macroeconomic variables is developed. It introduces a meaningful, genuine and indispensable new data vector of transformed variables, and this stepwise process is more appropriate against the wrong model specification. The results for the period of economic crises show that the proposed model is reliable from nominal to real prices, and the researchers implement normality to price modelling in its econometric mock-up phase. Overall, the proposed model predicts testable events for up to 48-months. Full article

Climate insurance has become a crucial issue due to the increasing number of climate-related catastrophic events and the associated losses for the economy in general and insurance companies in particular. The extremely hot and dry summers of 2018 and 2019 in some European countries highlighted existing weaknesses in European agricultural insurance mechanisms, with farmers having to wait for months before compensation payments could be made. Our paper compares features of yield-based insurance and index-based insurance (IBI) in agriculture in the light of new developments and trends in information technology (IT). The results show that applying Distributed Ledger Technologies (DLT) in combination with IBI could not only resolve existing problems but also facilitate the development of innovative risk management tools under the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) post-2020 reform. Full article

In the United States, exchange-traded funds can defer capital gains taxes of their investors by taking advantage of a legal loophole. To quantify the impact of this tax loophole on investor portfolios, we study a rank-dependent expected utility model. We develop an approximation formula for the sensitivity of the optimal investment strategy with respect to changes in the expected asset returns. By applying this approximation formula, we are able to quantitatively estimate how much investor portfolios may change depending on the investment horizon if the tax loophole is closed. Full article

One of the basic functions of establishing corporate governance (CG) in companies is improving performance and increasing value for shareholders. Expanding the company’s value will ultimately increase the shareholders’ wealth. Therefore, it is natural for shareholders to seek to improve their performance and increase the company’s value. If CG mechanisms cannot perform this function in companies, they do not have the necessary efficiency and effectiveness and, therefore, cannot improve the efficiency of companies. This article investigated the connection between the power of major shareholders and the modality of CG of companies listed on the Iranian capital market before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The statistical sample of the research included 120 companies listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange for the selected period from 2011 to 2021. The results showed that the concentration of ownership is harmful to adopting corporate governance (GCG) practices. In particular, the high level of voter ownership concentration weakens the corporate governance system (CGS). The results of this study, which was conducted using panel analysis, revealed that the concentration of ownership impairs the quality of CGS, and major shareholders cannot challenge the power of the main shareholder; it alsonegatively affected the quality of business boards, both during and before the COVID-19 pandemic. The competitiveness and voting rights of the major shareholders negatively affected the quality of board composition before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The concentration of voter ownership also negatively affected the quality of CGS, both during and before COVID-19, and the competitiveness and voting rights of major shareholders before COVID-19. This concentration positively affected the quality of CGS after the COVID-19 pandemic. Full article

We examine the future benefits of the Israeli privatized pension system, which is considered as a model of transition to funded pension systems worldwide. This research is based on an extensive database obtained from one of the largest traditional private funds in the market. The results paint a concerning picture regarding the adequacy of benefits and quality of life in old age. Israel’s radical privatized pension model signals a warning to other nations. We show that, even with high returns, most individuals cannot handle the magnitude of financial and labor risks accumulated during their career and retirement. We recommend more balanced government intervention as well as the use of risk-sharing mechanisms such as providing minimum pension guarantee and strengthening the unfunded social security pillar. Full article

We develop a dynamic model of a BHC that encompasses both a trading desk and a loan desk, and explore the role of risk attitude and overleveraging by the trading desk. We trace the impact of monetary policy and market innovations on bank behavior in the presence of Basel III type regulations. We show that the value of the BHC is enhanced by operating both desks. We explore alternative regulatory remedies to ongoing efforts to ring-fence the proprietary trading business, and show that regulations that target bank governance can mitigate possible rogue trading and the overleveraging problem. Full article

The unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 on the world tourism is clear and obvious. Still, modelling the impact on individual countries faces many problems from data availability to the multitude of underlying variables rather difficult to capture. This study used simple and multiple regression to research possible effects of the recent pandemic to the fall in the volume of tourism in 20 European countries, throughout the 20-month period. The results of this study were rather surprising showing that the relative fall in tourism cannot be explained only by incidence of COVID-19 by countries, while in multiple regression by adding the variables of distance of travel and composition of tourism by facilities coefficients of determination were very low. Adding variables of natural and cultural heritage as well as of cultural activities somewhat improved the baseline model with the best fitting variable of culture visits adding 11.8 percentage points to the explanatory power of the model, while culture employment and culture consumption added a possibly important 5.6 and 2.6 points, respectively. Although these findings are in line with recent literature of resilience and changes in tourism due to pandemic, a more thorough research is needed to further investigate these relations. Full article

Given the importance of stock market synchronization for international portfolio diversification, we estimate the degrees of co-movements among US, Chinese and Russian markets. By applying the TVP-VAR approach, we measure total and bivariate synchronization indices utilizing daily data from 1998 to 2021. Our analysis demonstrates that the total connectedness index (TCI) is 26.15% among the three markets. We find that the US market is the highest volatility contributor, whereas the Russian market is the highest receiver. Since stock market synchronization is exposed to geopolitical risk, at the second stage, we apply the Quantile-on-Quantile framework to measure the response of total and bilateral connectedness indices to geopolitical risk (GPR). The findings affirm our proposition that GPR impedes TCI when it has a bullish state and a higher quantile of GPR. The response of bilateral connectedness is negative towards GPR concerning US–China and US–Russian pairs. However, the degree of connectedness between Russian and Chinese stock markets is less responsive to GPR. Full article

The Lebanese banking sector has become risky due to political and economic crises. At such times, corporate governance mechanisms ensure objectivity of assessment and rationality in decision making. We examine the impact of internal corporate governance mechanisms on the performance of Lebanese banks, with political involvement in the administration and ownership of the banks. We used linear regression on a sample of 194 bank-year observations from 2016 to 2021. The presence of independent members on boards of directors, and ownership concentration due to family ownership, had positive effects on bank return on assets, return on equity, liquidity levels, and loans issued. Efficient control, along with the presence of audit, and compliance committees reduced risk by increasing capital adequacy and reducing non-performing loans. Both administrative political connections and ownership political connections increased return on assets, increased return on equity, increased liquidity levels, and increased loans to deposits, while increasing non-performing loans. Agency conflicts suggest that granting loans due to political pressure increased non-performing loans. Full article

The activation of the startup movement is one of the fundamental preconditions for the transition from innovation to a startup ecosystem, the development of which is impossible without special innovation structures that help startups promote innovative products on the market. The purpose of this article is to modernize the process of promoting innovative products on the market in the form of startups, taking into account the trends of the innovative development of the modern economy. The following methods are used in the article: situational and design approaches; methods of simulation and structural−functional modeling—to determine the potential market demand for innovative products and plan the process of their promotion to the market; and BPMN notation—to formalize the integration links between actors in the process of promoting innovative products on the market. As a result, a scheme for assessing the economic efficiency of innovative product market promotion process management was developed that sorts out several indicators at each stage of the innovation process, which allows one to increase the clarity and completeness of the promotion process management while reducing costs. The system of risk management of innovative products has been studied using the example of the promotion of the innovative startup Hideez Technology Ltd on the market in Europe and the USA. This has allowed the company to benefit economically from implementing the results, reaching USD 20,000. In conclusion, the sequence of actions for making management decisions during the implementation of the strategy for innovative product promotion process management was defined. Full article