The possible new shape of accounting in the United States

The Dingell Hearings currently under way in the House of Representatives may be the most likely opportunity for a major alteration in the structure of accounting control in the United States since the passage of the Securities Acts in 1933–1934. One should assume that the subcommittee is serious about its objectives of providing for tighter SEC control over the accounting function and for increasing the effectiveness of auditing. In the following pages, I will offer my views on the crucial issues being considered by the subcommittee looking at the SEC and the accountants, and I will conjecture on the possible alternatives for congressional action. Finally, I will speculate on what these changes might mean to the structure of accounting practice and government regulatory activity, and I will make suggestions regarding some possible areas of future research into accounting institutions and policy.     

Modern Russian corporate governance: convergent forces or product of Russia’s history?

Does Russian corporate governance in the new millennium amount to a gradual evolution towards US-style corporate governance, or can it be expected to continue to reflect historical institutions and national culture? When multinationals complain about State interference in firms’ strategies and operations, can this be a permanent state of affairs, or is the situation likely to change?After 1991, Russia, in the middle of a huge crisis, embarked on a program of mass privatization, ostensibly with a view to creating full, market-based corporate governance, with open information disclosure, and enterprise ownership by outside investors having no relationship with the firm other then through their shares. In practice, however, it has become clear that a very different pattern has emerged, especially in manufacturing industries with relational investors, including managers and employees, as well as banks and other firms linked horizontally or vertically, little share liquidity. There is continued hostility towards active western and other genuinely ‘outside’ investors, and persistently strong State influence. This paper argues that this outcome can only be understood in the context of business history.     

认股权证及其在我国的发展状况

认股权证是一个历史悠久、交易活跃的金融工具，随着全球资本市场的不断发展，各种衍生性金融产品不断推陈出新。我国的市场参与者寻求更有效的避险方式以及解决国有股流通问题等市场新需求的出现，促使认股权证成为中国证券市场衍生产品创新的品种之一。认股权证是一种能够按特定价格买入某一上市公司发行股票的选择权凭证。认股权证主要有投资、融资、公司股权平衡和激励三大功能。认股权证和备兑认股权证部属于资本市场上的金融衍生产品。如果一个市场逐渐走向成熟．必然需要丰富其金融工具。推出备兑认股权证是金融市场发展的需要。     

An industrial analysis market information system

The United States maritime industry share of world cargo movement has declined steadily for the last decade. The authors maintain that this situation is partially due to the industry's lack of a marketing orientation. Successful marketing hinges upon an effective market information system. This paper presents such a system for the U.S. maritime industry and discusses various information sources as a foundation for this system.     

The price of liquidity: The effects of market conditions and bank characteristics

We study the prices that individual banks pay for liquidity (captured by borrowing rates in repos with the central bank and benchmarked by the overnight index swap) as a function of market conditions and bank characteristics. These prices depend in particular on the distribution of liquidity across banks, which is calculated over time using individual bank-level data on reserve requirements and actual holdings. Banks pay more for liquidity when positions are more imbalanced across banks, consistent with the existence of short squeezing. We also show that small banks pay more for liquidity and are more vulnerable to squeezes. Healthier banks pay less but, contrary to what one might expect, banks in formal liquidity networks do not. State guarantees reduce the price of liquidity but do not protect against squeezes.     

俄罗斯国有银行：优势地位、私有化及启示

俄罗斯国有银行在改革之始就实行了股份制商业化改造,已经基本上具备了较为现代的公司治理机制,其管理和经营效率包括资产和资本收益率较国内的其他股份制和私人银行还要好些,但国家支持的优势地位及由此形成的国有银行垄断问题依然成为银行服务市场发展公平有效的竞争环境的阻碍。国有银行私有化已经成为俄银行部门发展战略的重要内容。