Gains from Disaggregation and the Definition of a Segment: A Note on SSAP 25

The role of line of business segment disclosure is examined in a setting in which disaggregated data is a means of mapping analysts' specialist expertise concerning the future profitability of the industry, to the consolidated profit forecast of the individual firm. Using this analysis, we show formally that relevant segmental disclosure requires that the management of a company define segments in such a way that users (and, in particular, analysts) can use their specialist forecasting expertise. We show that, unless segments are so defined, consolidated profit alone is a sufficient disclosure. This means that appropriate reportable segments may not necessarily coincide with the company's organisational structure, which is unlikely to be determined solely by factors relating to forecasting efficiency. We also provide a rationale for different types of segmental information. Measures of segmental activity enable the expected performance of the industry to be mapped to the individual firm; but using these measures alone assumes that the segment profitability mirrors its industry. The additional disclosure of segmental profit allows this mapping to be varied according to the segment's position in relation to its industry norm.     

Shareholder Taxes in Acquisition Premiums: The Effect of Capital Gains Taxation

We exploit cross‐temporal differences in capital gains tax rates to test whether shareholder‐level capital gains taxes are associated with higher acquisition premiums for taxable acquisitions. We model acquisition premiums as a function of proxies for the capital gains taxes of target shareholders, taxability of the acquisition, and tax status of the price‐setting shareholder as represented by the level of target institutional ownership. Consistent with a lock‐in effect for acquisition premiums, results suggest a unique positive association between shareholder capital gains taxes for individual investors and acquisition premiums for taxable acquisitions, which is mitigated by target institutional ownership.     

股权激励与审计意见购买研究

上市公司股票期权激励计划公告日前,管理层有进行向下盈余管理的动机,以获取更低的行权价格.因此,管理层有强烈的审计意见购买动机以获得"清洁"审计意见.审计意见购买行为直接损害了审计质量和注册会计师的独立性,危及审计市场及社会经济的有效运行.本文站在独立研究者的角度,阐述了股权激励下审计意见购买的动机和方式,并提出相关防范...     

关于Riemann可积性的注记

本文用测度论讨论了一元非连续函数的可积性,给出了一元非连续函数Riemann可积的充分条件.     

A Note on Bonus Scales

We revisit the optimal bonus scales introduced by Norberg (Norberg, R., 1976, Scandinavian Actuarial Journal (2): 92‐107), Borgan, Hoem, and Norberg (Borgan, O., J. Hoem, and R. Norberg, 1981, Scandinavian Actuarial Journal (2): 165‐178), and Gilde and Sundt (Gilde, V., and B. Sundt, 1989, Scandinavian Actuarial Journal (1): 13‐22) and underline some potential problems of the linear scales. As a possible solution we propose the use of geometric scales.     

Interest Rate Premia on UK Small-Firm Bank Borrowings: A Research Note

This research note examines empirically the determinants of bank interest rate premia for a sample of UK small firms over the period 1986 to 1991. A number of testable hypotheses are formulated regarding the relationship between interest rate premia and a number of firm-specific risk and cost factors. The empirical results indicate that interest rate premia are significantly related to several of the firm-specific cost and risk factors. These results suggest that there has been some attempt to incorporate into loan pricing decisions both the direct costs associated with individual loan advances and the specific risk characteristics of the borrower.     

Why Managers Use Cost Allocations: A Research Note

Using an experimental design, this paper investigates empirically the conditions under which managers use cost allocations for decision-making purposes. The paper focuses on decision-risk in the context of short-term decision-making when most capacity costs are unavoidable. Decision-risk is determined in this paper by a combination of two factors: uncertainty and irreversibility. Cost allocations can serve as a reference point for a decision maker to deal with decision-risk. Three hypotheses are formulated: (1) the combination of both uncertainty and decision irreversibility induces the use of cost allocations. However, (2) certainty or (3) decision reversibility alone are not expected to induce the use of cost allocations. The hypotheses were tested in an experiment, in which senior managers participated. The experimental results supported the hypotheses.     

商业年金消费决策的行为经济学分析

商业年金是我国养老保险体系的重要组成部分,虽然近年来我国在政策层面不断推动商业年金的发展,但是我国居民的商业年金需求仍然十分低,存在“年金谜题”现象。本文从行为经济学的视角展开对商业年金消费决策的分析,首先从理论层面阐述了行为因素对商业年金消费决策的影响机制,随后设计调查问卷收集个体数据,从实证层面进行了验证。结果发现,主观概率、心理账户、信息感知、金融素养等行为因素会显著影响个人的商业年金消费水平,其他客观因素如性别、年龄、婚姻状况、风险态度以及收入水平等也会显著影响个人的商业年金消费水平。基于本文研究结果,认为未来商业年金回归保障属性、弱化个人账户概念以及发展保险咨询服务等可以带来商业年金需求的提升。     

证券投资收益的价值相关性与盈余管理研究

随着证券市场的发展,证券投资收益成为上市公司一项重要的非经常性损益。本文检验了2007年新会计准则下上市公司证券投资收益的价值相关性与盈余管理现象,研究结果表明:(1)我国证券市场能够区分营业利润与证券投资收益,并根据它们的重要性而赋予不同的估值;(2)证券投资收益具有价值相关性,但不具有及时性;(3)上市公司通过出售时机的选择对已实现证券投资收益进行了盈余管理;(4)证券投资采用公允价值变动确认损益的方式既提高了会计信息的相关性,又避免了盈余管理,是一种更好的证券投资收益确认模式。基于上述研究结果,建议交易性金融资产和可供出售金融资产的公允价值变动均确认为损益,并对其进行及时、透明的表外信息披露。     

A Field Study of the Review Process: Research Note

Despite the stated importance of the audit review process in auditing standards and textbooks, research on the process itself is limited. This study provides evidence on the nature and purpose of the review process by examining the actual review notes prepared by managers of a Big-6 accounting firm. A sample of twenty-eight audit engagements resulting in 3,008 separate review notes was examined. The results suggest that quality control aspects appear to be the main focus of the review process. Review notes sometimes indicated the need to gather further information and/or undertake additional testing, and provided direct as well as indirect advice on the audit approach to subordinates. Few surprises resulted from the review process, and the review notes and approaches varied among managers.     

The Price of UK Commercial Credit Lines: A Research Note

Abstract:  The UK Cruickshank Report (2000) highlighted the potential for market power issues where bank concentration could lead to more expensive credit. Because of the many risk factors influencing the cost of credit, it is difficult to establish whether differences in pricing is a consequence of risk or is due to differential pricing practices among lenders. In this study, we find that even when risk factors are taken into account, considerable variation in pricing among UK lenders remains. Moreover, the lenders with the largest market share in SME finance over the 8 years surveyed, charged significantly higher interest premia.     

A Note on Computation of Implied Volatility

This is a note on computation of the implied volatility in theBlack–Scholes formula to evaluate an accuracy of the computation.     

A Note on Interaction between Financial Markets

This paper investigates the interaction between thestock market and the stock option market. When thepredictions of the future stock price distributionsare different between markets,there is a chance that the option pricing method ofBlack and Scholes with its application to anarbitrage trading strategy may lead to substantialmarket turmoil. We will also investigatethe conditions of market stability.     

Assessing the Economic Significance of Return Predictability: A Research Note

The predictability of stock returns is often assessed using classical statistical significance from predictive regressions. Statistical inference, however, can belie the economic importance with which investors regard various predictors. This paper examines the influence that predictors have on an investor's optimal portfolio allocations. The results show that return predictability is sufficient to induce horizon effects in optimal allocations. After incorporating estimation risk, however, little evidence of predictability remains. We also assess the relative importance of three predictor variables. While dividend yield is the most important predictor, optimal allocations are also sensitive to the term spread and the relative bill rate.