FINANCE,DISTRIBUTION AND THE ECONOMIC OBJECTIVE OF FINANCIAL COOPERATIVE INSTITUTIONS

This paper proposes a model where the structure rather than the size of the financial sector explains its influence on income distribution. Because of information asymmetries, a financial sector dominated solely by profit‐maximizing financial intermediaries will increase income and wealth inequality as it gives preferential access to credit for high‐income agents, whereas a diversified inclusive financial sector with alternative models of finance, like cooperatives, will reduce the inequality gap. No full convergence in income distribution can be realized through finance only and there is still a need for redistribution policies. Accordingly, an objective function for cooperative financial institutions should define a desired pricing behaviour that can increase the income of members at a rate higher than the average growth rate of the economy.     

Blockchain for tracking serial numbers in money exchanges

Money exchange is one of the most common day‐to‐day activities performed by humans in the daily market. This paper presents an approach to money tracking through a blockchain. The proposed approach consists of three main components: serial number localization, serial number recognition, and a blockchain to store all transactions and ownership transfers. The approach was tested with a total of 110 banknotes of different currency types and achieved an average accuracy of 91.17%. We conducted a user study in real‐time with 21 users, and the mean accuracy across all users was 86.42%. Each user gave us feedback on the proposed approach, and most of them welcomed the idea.     

Halal-friendly hotels: impact of halal-friendly attributes on guest purchase behaviors in the Thailand hotel industry

This study was designed to identify the attributes of a halal-friendly hotel and evaluate the role of these attributes in motivating the behavioral intentions of Muslim customers. Qualitative and quantitative approaches identified 30 validation and reliability items involving five distinctive dimensions, which included halal-friendly service, facilities, foods and beverages, privacy, and customer-service equality. The findings from the structural model indicate that the proposed model sufficiently explains the variance in intentions; three attributes were positively related to cognitive evaluation, and four attributes had significant influence on affective evaluation. In addition, the results indicated that cognitive and affective evaluation worked as mediators.     

The Future of U.S. Infrastructure: Proposals for Progress

America's transportation, energy, and water systems are in desperate need of maintenance, and new development must be encouraged to secure the country's economic future. This article proposes several far‐reaching but concrete and immediate steps to address these challenges: First, the U.S. must have a clear, comprehensive, long‐term plan for the development and maintenance of the country's infrastructure, one that will raise public awareness and promote new approaches. It should facilitate the development of such a vision at every level of government, with the aim of building consensus and encouraging local solutions. Next, the public sector should build an internal capability for evaluating projects, a centralized clearinghouse of best practices and educational resources to provide regional and local authorities with the information and expertise they need to enlist private investment in appropriate and productive ways. This is particularly true for Public‐Private Partnerships, which are mistakenly viewed by many as a panacea. Without careful scrutiny of such transactions, many will fail to realize the benefits that well‐designed PPPs are expected to deliver. Finally, despite best intentions, little progress has been made on the political front in addressing the crisis. A National Infrastructure Commission charged with assessing the country's needs and resources, identifying best practices, and making long‐term recommendations may be the catalyst needed to get past the gridlock, a driving force that can rise above the politics, draw from the best ideas, and provide a long‐term vision and pathway. To be most effective, the Commission should recruit a broad and nonpartisan membership, lever‐age the work of existing organizations, and provide a united front.     

Safety programmes in the Egyptian construction industry

This study is aimed at exploring the nature of the safety programmes applied by large-size contractors operating in Egypt. Results revealed that safety programmes applied by those contractors were less formal than the programmes applied by their American counterparts. Only three contractors out of the surveyed sample had accident records broken down by projects, provided workers with formal safety orientation, and trained safety personnel on first-aid. The study recommended that reforms to the scheme of the employers' contribution to social insurance are necessary. This is meant to serve as a strong incentive for safety management.     

Prospect of off-seasonal vegetable production in Bangladesh: a socioeconomic diagnosis

Quality & Quantity - The research work was conducted to estimate comparative profitability, seasonal price variations, and factors affecting the farmers’ decision in the adoption of...     

A social accounting matrix for Egypt, 1976

A 1976 Social Accounting Matrix for Egypt is presented and the methods of estimation used are described briefly. Some of the implications of the accounting are discussed. The information on the distribution of taxes and subsidies indicates that the latter are the major source of progressiveness in the fiscal system. In relation to their incomes, rural households are also shown to pay less in taxes and receive less in subsidies than urban households.     

E-business audit: Advisory jurisdiction or occupational invasion?

This study sets out to examine the impact of technological change on the external audit function of e-businesses and, specifically, the professionals involved in executing it. Utilising semi-structured interviews combined with a questionnaire survey, this paper explores the possible implications of developments in e-business audit for financial auditors as a professional group. The findings suggest that the traditional authority enjoyed by external financial auditors is being, and will be, increasingly challenged by IT audit specialists. The role of the professional bodies, responsible for the education and training of financial audit professionals, in particular, is highlighted as key to the outcome if they are to fend off challenges in this growing arena and retain jurisdictional control.