International Journal of Finance and Accounting

Financial Innovation and Risk Management in Japan

Haruka Sato — 2024-04-04

Purpose: The aim of the study was to investigate the Financial Innovation and Risk Management.

Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries.

Findings: Japan has seen a surge in financial innovation driven by fintech startups and digitalization efforts by traditional banks. However, this innovation comes with regulatory challenges and risks that must be managed. Regulatory frameworks are being updated to address new risks like cybersecurity threats. There's also a growing focus on corporate governance, risk culture, and sustainability integration.

Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Option pricing theory, capital asset pricing model (CAPM) & modern portfolio theory (MPT) may be used to anchor future studies on the financial innovation and risk management. Foster a culture of innovation within financial institutions by promoting collaboration between risk management professionals and product development teams. Establish regulatory sandboxes and innovation hubs to facilitate responsible experimentation with financial innovations while maintaining regulatory oversight.

The Impact of Culture on the Demand for Non-life Insurance Penetration in Developing Countries: Panel Data Analysis

Ezdini Sihem — 2024-04-15

Purpose: The impact of insurance market activity within financial development is gaining more attention in academia, as the sector experiences growth within emerging markets. The paper aims to understand which macro-economic and social variables impact the growth or decline of the non-life insurance sector broadly across European countries with a view to provide recommendations to drive increased penetration across the region.

Methodology: Using Fixed Effects Panel Data Regression and annual data from 1990 to 2021 on 10 countries, the study examines the explanatory factors of non-life insurance demand in European countries (Australia, France, Austria, Italy, Canada, Luxemburg, Denmark, Norway, Finland and Portugal).

Findings: The study found that GDP, and urbanization and education rates have a significant negative impact on non-life insurance penetration and density; urbanization, religion, education level and rule of law can explain positively variation in non-life insurance density and penetration across countries. Countries with higher urbanization levels, higher education level, Christian or Buddhist beliefs and more effective rule of law spend more on non- life insurance than other countries. The control of corruption and government effectiveness explain negatively variance in non-life insurance.

Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Notably, governments can develop the non-life insurance sector through policies that support urbanization.
Similarly, ensuring an environment that promotes economic freedom (such as low tariff, high personal choice, low government spending and high security of property rights) could be an effective way of promoting non-life insurance demand. In contrast, policies that help to reduce the rate of urbanization may yield a double dividend: less population and congestion in cities and better opportunities for the development of non-life insurance markets. Also, countries with high level of education, can develop the development of non- life insurance demand. Among many socio-economic factors such as income, urbanization and education level, our analysis suggests that cultural dimensions such as beliefs and rule of law play a role.

Corporate Governance and Firm Performance: A Cross-Country Analysis in South Korea

Kang Min-ji — 2024-04-04

Purpose: The aim of the study was to examine the corporate governance and firm performance: a cross-country analysis.

Findings: Financial regulations in Germany impact market liquidity through a complex interplay of factors. While they enhance stability and investor protection, compliance costs and altered trading dynamics may initially hinder liquidity. However, regulatory initiatives driving innovation and global harmonization can ultimately foster a more efficient market environment, benefiting both domestic and international

Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Agency theory, stewardship theory & institutional theory may be used to anchor future studies on the corporate governance and firm performance: a cross-country analysis. The study should provide practical recommendations for firms and corporate boards to enhance their corporate governance practices based on empirical findings. The study should inform policymakers and regulatory authorities about the implications of corporate governance regulations on firm performance and market competitiveness.

Venture Capital and Financial Performance of E-Commerce-Driven Firms in Kenya

Muinde Mwendwa — 2024-04-15

Purpose: Businesses that rely on e-commerce for growth frequently find that their ability to obtain sufficient capital is critical to their success. Funding from venture capital firms is essential in this context. Due to insufficient capital, e-commerce-driven businesses in Kenya have continuously underperformed financially. Numerous of these businesses, such as Rupu, OLX Kenya, and ePay, encountered financial difficulties and eventually lost the ability to continue operating. This study's main objectives were to evaluate the impact of capital management support, financing options, and cost of capital on the financial performance of Kenyan e-commerce businesses. Additionally, the study sought to fully evaluate the moderating impact of regulatory structure on venture capital funding and the financial performance of Kenyan e-commerce-driven firms. The trade-off, stakeholder, financial liberalization, and agency theories all lend credence to this research. The research philosophy of positivism, which emphasizes the use of empirical data to evaluate theories and hypotheses, was applied to perform this study.

Methodology: The study examined a population of 45 e-commerce-driven businesses that obtained venture capital financing between 2017 and 2022 using a descriptive cross-sectional survey research approach. A stratified simple random sampling design technique was employed to choose 45 e-commerce-driven businesses as a sample. Surveys were distributed to collect primary data. Important stakeholders, including investors, executives, and founders, were among the participants in the study. Descriptive statistics were employed to summarize the data, such as measures of central tendency (particularly the mean), variability (expressed by the standard deviation), and frequency distributions. Regression analysis, an inferential statistic, was also employed in the study to investigate the relationship between venture capital funding and financial success. The gathered data were coded before entering into the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) program to make the analysis process easier. The analysis's final results were provided as tables.

Findings: The findings showed that the cost of capital, financing strategies, and capital management support significantly impact Kenyan e-commerce enterprises' financial performance. The aggregate score of 3.73 in cost of capital indicated consensus among participants on the impact of venture capital on e-commerce companies' financial performance. Participants perceived a significant correlation, with a standard deviation of 1.15 reflecting varying opinions. Most agree that lower venture capital costs lead to better financial success, influencing organizations' financial decisions significantly. The study concluded that venture capital funding has a considerable impact on the financial performance of e-commerce-driven enterprises in Kenya. The report advised management to thoroughly understand the total cost of capital related to venture capital funding.

Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study on venture capital and financial performance of e-commerce-driven firms in Kenya has made significant contributions to theory, practice, and policy. It has enhanced theoretical understanding by examining the relationship between venture capital investments and the financial performance of e-commerce firms, providing insights into the dynamics of these markets. In practice, the study has offered valuable guidance to e-commerce entrepreneurs and investors by identifying factors that influence financial performance and informing strategic decision-making. Additionally, the findings have implications for policy formulation, as they highlight the importance of fostering an enabling environment for venture capital investments in the e-commerce sector to spur economic growth and innovation in Kenya.