ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT AND SELECTION OF INTERNATIONAL ACCOUNTING SOFTWARE: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY

The demand for accounting software with international functionality has risen significantly with the increasingly global nature of business transactions. Our study, based on a survey of international U.K. firms, explores the possible relationship between organizational context and international attributes considered important by these firms in selecting international accounting software. Our results show significant influences of organizational size, structure, and maturity on the perceived need for international features of accounting software. Moreover, there is also evidence that U.K. firms consider technical multi-currency and multi-reporting functionality as the most important international features of accounting software. The implication from our results is that organizational context should be an important consideration in the selection and design of international accounting software.     

Disharmony in international accounting standards setting: The Chinese approach to accounting for business combinations

The paper addresses two distinct aspects of disharmony in international accounting standards setting. The first aspect relates to the political economic context of financial accounting standards. This is illustrated by the Chinese standards setters’ decision to allow the pooling of interests method of accounting for business combinations despite the prohibition of this method by both the FASB and the IASB. This decision by the Chinese standards setters appears to have been based on political economic factors related to the need for industrial reorganization in China rather than a desire to serve the needs of global capital markets. The second aspect of disharmony relates to the role played by differential understandings of the fundamental objectives of financial reporting in an international context. The IASB's goal of producing one set of global accounting standards to serve the needs of global capital markets has led to a reduction in the number of permissible accounting methods and a move towards the fair value accounting model. In particular, the IASB concluded that the acquisition method of accounting for business combinations should be the only method allowed for business combinations. In contrast, the Chinese standards setters have recognized the existence of both mergers and acquisitions, and in response they created two different methods of accounting for business combinations. Effectively, the Chinese standards setters developed an alternative approach to accounting for business combinations which challenges the IASB's goal of achieving international accounting convergence through the fair value model.     

Global civil society: lessons from ocean governance

Late 20th century ideas about governance of the world's oceans may provide clues to the role of “civil society” in the 21st century. The UN Convention on Law of the Sea has radically changed traditional ideas about “national sovereignty”, shifting its focus from territorial to functional, imposing on states the duty to cooperate and pay taxes, requiring the sharing of sovereign rights, and transcending sovereignty with the “common heritage” concept. The proliferation of nongovernmental organisations operating on the international stage is empowering all elements of a burgeoning global civil society. In some pioneering experiences in international relations, nongovernmental representatives sit on a par with delegates from governments. Most of the elements of global civil society—NGOs, international business, the community of scientists, worldwide media, and local communities—are not yet focused on the kinds of globalization that can narrow the rich–poor gap and promote sustainable development, but in the new century, a more global civil society can play a more constructive role.     

营业准入制度的国别效应分析

营业准入制度的国别效应是指国际资本、跨国投资、国际产业分工和全球贸易对不同国家或地区营业准入制度设计、调整和变化的反应程度.以国际资本的流动为例,从静态来分析,表现为营业准入限制国的资本挤出效应和营业准入开放国的资本集聚效应;从动态来分析,则表现为营业准入限制国因制度调整而创造的投资洼地效应和营业准入开放国因制度供给过剩而产生的资本溢出效应.对欠发达国家和营业准入限制国来说,适度地对其营业准入制度进行有效的调整,选择自由、开放型营业准入制度,可以解决营业准入方面的制度不公和制度供给不足问题,进而以营业准入制度优势来换取国家竞争优势.     

Competitiveness and the convergence of international business practice: North American evidence after NAFTA

One of the economic implications of globalization is increased competition. As competition in product markets increases, inefficient strategies are eliminated and successful practices are imitated by competitors. A source of globalization pressure is the reduction of trade barriers that previously protected some domestic sectors. In addition, globalization has also coincided with investors becoming more aware of foreign investment opportunities that directly compete with domestic demands for capital used in production. The increased global competition in both product and financial markets thus has the effect of defining “good” business practices as those that survive and prosper in the global economy. In this study, the hypothesis of a trend toward commonality of business practices is tested. As international competition in both product and financial markets increases, business practices should converge in the sense that acceptable deviations from the (unobservable) optimum decrease. Empirically, operating ratios, such as total asset turnover and inventory turnover, profitability ratios, such as return on equity (ROE), and growth to 1995 period, evidence of convergence in real asset management, is presented. In addition, there is no difference in profitability by country that supports capital market integration. This result suggests that (1) the North American Free Trade Agreement has economic substance and (2) gains to corporate international diversification within North America are decreasing.     

Future roles of business in society: the expanding boundaries of corporate responsibility and a compelling case for partnership

The roles and responsibilities of business in society, in particular global business, are being defined more broadly by an expanding range of stakeholders. This paper aims to review these changes and their implications in order to understand better the likely future expectations of business in society and the way in which leading companies are setting new standards of responsible business practice. It begins by tracing trends within corporate social responsibility debates, and then draws on empirical research and observed stakeholder demands of business, to argue that the boundaries of corporate responsibility are advancing both internally and externally.Internally, these boundaries are changing in terms of the increased responsibility of corporations towards their direct and indirect internal stakeholders. This is shown through innovations in business practice to achieve enhanced social justice in the workplace, improved governance, and more accurate disclosure of non-financial risk. This paper provides a context for this discussion by examining emerging international law, guidelines and voluntary initiatives, regulatory frameworks, and risk review procedures that increasingly seek to redefine corporate responsibility by establishing new norms of best practice and behaviour. These boundaries are also expanding externally, as society increasingly expects global business to work with others to provide solutions to humanitarian crises and endemic problems facing the world. This paper explores how some companies are doing this by applying core competencies in ways that integrate social development and business goals. It suggests, in turn, that the challenges of these expanding boundaries of responsibilities are best addressed through strategic partnerships.This paper concludes that there are new multi-stakeholder convened global governance frameworks evolving that are encouraging businesses of the future to re-invent themselves as a ‘force for positive good’ in society. This involves going beyond the paradigm of simply ‘doing no harm’, and way beyond previous expectations of business as being only about shareholder value. This prediction is supported by examples drawn from the practice of global companies that are already innovating to fulfil this wider role.     

航标控股：以持续卓越打造卫浴航母

7月13日，中国闽南漳州一家从事卫浴制造的企业——航标控股有限公司（简称：航标控股，股票代码1190）在香港联交所上市，收市报每股港币2．32元。航标控股IP0募集资金近5亿港币。航标控股此次在国际资本市场的成功融资，不仅为其在今年？月第五条生产线的顺利投产和第六条生产线投入建设提供了资金保障，更为重要的是，为航标控股实现以持续卓越打造世界卫浴航母的发展战略提供了国际融资通道。在欧美经济持续低迷、全球经济持续不明朗的今天，航标控股靠什么赢得越来越大的市场份额/靠什么赢得全球投资者的青睐？未来又将靠什么打造全球卫浴航母？为此，《国际融资》记者专程采访了航标控股董事长肖智勇先生     

全球经常项目失衡影响因素的实证研究

近年来,全球经常项目失衡问题成为经济研究者、国际机构和各国中央银行经济学家以及商务经济研究报告竞相研究的热点问题。本文利用全球范围内56个国家或地区1980年至2005年的数据,针对影响经常项目的多种因素进行实证研究,结果表明经常项目与政府财政收支、资本形成率以及开放程度等因素密切相关。在当前全球经济增速放缓的形势下,只有通过有效的国际经济政策协调才能促进全球经常项目失衡问题的有序解决。     

珠三角:IBM全球整合战略要地

IBM在珠三角的布局,已经从单纯的业务分公司增加到了包括采购、生产、客户订单履行、软件业务支持及全球服务执行中心等在内的多个业务机构,珠三角已成为IBM全球整合的战略要地。     

Thriving locally in the global economy

More and more small and midsize companies are joining corporate giants in striving to exploit international growth markets. At the same time, civic leaders worry about their communities' economic future in light of the impact of global forces on the operation and survival of business. How can communities retain local vitality yet still link their business to the global economy? Harvard professor Rosabeth Moss Kanter addresses that question in this classic HBR article, orginally published in 1995. To avoid a clash between international economic interests and local political interests, globalizing business must learn how to be responsive to the communities in which they operate, Kanter says. And communities must determine how to create a civic culture that will attract and retain footloose companies. The author surveyed five U.S. regions with direct connections to the global economy--Boston, Cleveland, Miami, Seattle, and the Spartanburg-Greenville region of South Carolina--to determine their business and civic leader's strategies for improving their constituent's quality of life. She identified ways in which the global economy can work locally by capitalizing on the resources that distinguish one place from another. Kanter argues that regions can invest in capabilities that connect their local populations to the global economy in one of three ways: as thinkers, makers, or traders. She points to the Spartanburg-Greenville region as a good example of a world-class makers, with its exceptional blue-collar workforce that has attracted more than 200 companies from 18 countries. The history of the economic development of this region is a lesson for those seeking to understand how to achieve world-class status and bring local residents into the world economy.     

Firm structure and financial performance: the Lancashire textile industry, c.1884 - c.1960

Recent business history has been much concerned with the relationship between organization structure and competitive advantage. Using an archetypal case, the decline of the export-led British cotton industry, the contention that the vertically integrated, professionally managed firm has been an important pre-condition for the creation of international competitive advantage during the twentieth century is subjected to scrutiny. This is achieved by a long-run comparison of accounting-based financial performance indicators. Evidence suggests that vertical specialization was a superior form of business organization. Explanations for this lie in the evolution of technology, a conflict between production and marketing in integrated firms, but, above all, in market signals which repeatedly informed entrepreneurs that specialization worked. In drawing such conclusions we differ fundamentally from previous interpretations of the rise and fall of Lancashire textiles.     

“Grand” corruption and the ethics of global business

The paper explores the ethical obligations of global business to refrain from corruption. Corruption is harmful for the growth prospects of host countries and can introduce inefficiencies and inequities. I argue that business corporations have an obligation to refrain from illegal payoffs as part of the quid pro quo implied by the laws that permit corporations to exist and to operate. The paper goes on to consider how firms might respond, and isolates situations where anti-corruption policies can be profitable for firms. It concludes with an analysis of international efforts to deter transnational bribery and with suggestions for additional international initiatives.     

Alleviating Transitory Food Crises in Sub-Saharan Africa: International Altruism and Trade

The donor community has responded to unexpected or transitorydrops in domestic food production in many countries in Sub-SaharanAfrica. An empirical framework estimates and analyzes the correlationbetween this food aid and domestic production. Both emergencyfood aid and commercial imports are used to offset the effectsof negative output shocks in Sub-Saharan African countries—themajor recipients of global emergency food aid. On average everyone-ton drop in cereal production is offset by the deliveryof 0.8 tons of cereal and dairy products from abroad (over fouryears). Most food aid arrives within a year of a shock, andcorrelation of shocks over time along with the differences betweencrop years and calendar years may explain the link between aidand production. The economic and political considerations alsodetermine the global response to the emergency food needs ofcountries in Africa. The international response is not contingenton the form of government or the level of political and humanrights violations. Poorer countries and those with well-establishednon-emergency food aid programs receive larger amounts of emergencyaid when needed.     

ACCA助力中国企业“走出去”

近年来,随着企业＂走出去＂战略的深入实施,中国企业＂走出去＂取得了重要进展,但由于对一些国际规则尤其是国际会计准则的不了解和忽视,中国企业在＂走出去＂的过程中也遇到了种种意想不到的问题。那么,中国企业在＂走出去＂的过程中如何适应跨国经营规则和国际惯例？如何借助会计这一手段进一步提升＂走出去＂的质量,提高在国际环境下开展...     

The impact of citations in International Finance

The globalization of business and economic activities is expected to increase readership and citation performance for articles with an international focus. This study measures the impact of such articles on rankings and citation scores of thirty-one academic journals in accounting, economics and finance. Sample statistics show that these journals increased their proportion of global articles from a median of 15% in 2001 to a median of 25% in 2008. Two regression models (logistic and OLS) support the increasing role of international articles on journal performance. Both approaches show that improvements in ranking and citation scores were positively affected by global coverage, especially in economics. The results also highlight that two research topics dominate the field of global finance: International Corporate Governance and International Banking.     

小额人身保险"菲律宾之经验"解析

本文研究的主题是菲律宾小额人身保险的经验、特点及其原因分析。在菲律宾,真正意义上的小额人身保险始于2006年,所取得的成就引起了国际社会的广泛关注。其成功的经验主要有三个方面:一是民众对小额人身保险的普遍认同;二是政府坚定的决心和全面介入;三是小额人身保险销售渠道的网络化。对于我国正在开展的小额人身保险而言,菲律宾的经验耐人寻味,值得我们思考和借鉴。     

Towards the age of corporate responsibility? Emerging challenges for the business world

The article seeks to show how the issue of ethical corporations can be examined and challenged through the concept of corporate responsibility. Corporate responsibility first emerged as a term around 10 years ago with the rise of environmental reporting systems. At that time, the UNCED summit in Rio boosted the general level of consciousness concerning these issues and the first business-driven international organisation to tackle the field, Business Council for Sustainable Development, emerged. Globalisation, which by any indicators accelerated enormously during the 1990s, has challenged corporations to consider responsibility in a new light. The evolution and spread of a global network of finance have increased the need for transparency and responsibility, at the same time as the shift from ‘international’ to ‘global’ signified the gradual breakdown of old institutions and the emergence of new ones. This article evaluates how corporations have responded to this challenge and postulates, in the light of increasing pressures on human and natural conditions, a coming ‘Age of Responsibility’ that will set corporate responsibility a basis for any action in business world.     

全球价值链分工对全球失衡的影响研究--基于全球生产分解模型下GVC参与方式的视角

本文基于全球生产分解模型,实证检验了全球价值链分工对全球失衡的影响。研究发现,参与全球价值链分工会对经常账户产生影响,最终导致全球失衡,且采用上游供给的前向参与对全球失衡存在正向作用,而采取下游需求的后向参与对全球失衡具有负向作用,即不同参与方式对全球失衡具有差异化影响。本文还发现,全球价值链分工参与深浅复杂程度差异、产业类型参与差别对全球失衡均具有差别化影响。本研究为缓解中美贸易摩擦等国家间不必要贸易争端提供有益的理论探索。     

Regional strategies for global leadership

The leaders of such global powerhouses as GE, Wal-Mart, and Toyota seem to have grasped two crucial truths: First, far from becoming submerged by the rising tide of globalization, geographic and other regional distinctions may in fact be increasing in importance. Second, regionally focused strategies, used in conjunction with local and global initiatives, can significantly boost a company's performance. The business and economic data reveal a highly regionalized world. For example, trade within regions, rather than across them, drove the surge of international commerce in the second half of the twentieth century. Regionalization is also apparent in foreign direct investment, companies' international sales, and competition among the world's largest multinationals. Harvard Business School Professor Pankaj Ghemawat says that the most successful companies employ five types of regional strategies in addition to--or even instead of--global ones: home base, portfolio, hub, platform, and mandate. Some companies adopt the strategies in sequence, but the most nimble switch from one to another and combine approaches as their markets and businesses evolve. At Toyota, for example, exports from the home base continue to be substantial even as the company builds up an international manufacturing presence. And as Toyota achieves economies of scale and scope with a strong network of hubs, the company also pursues economies of specialization through interregional mandates. Embracing regional strategies requires flexibility and creativity. A company must decide what constitutes a region, choose the most appropriate strategies, and mesh those strategies with the organization's existing structures. In a world that is neither truly global nor truly local, finding ways of coordinating within and across regions can deliver a powerful competitive advantage.     

影子银行：体系、内生性风险及国际监管取向

摘要：全球金融危机后,国际社会从一个新的视角——影子银行体系来分析现代金融体系,并重构现代国际金融监管制度。影子银行体系的有效监管必须具有翔实的微观基础,比如体系边界、风险特征及表现形式等。国际上对影子银行体系并无公认的定义。影子银行具有证券化程度高、信息不透明、杠杆率较高等特征,这直接引致其存在诸多内生性金融风险,国际社会倾向于采用“类银行化”的监管路径对影子银行进行金融监管。国际社会采取的一系列法律、政策措施对我国影子银行监管具有一定的启示。