PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure and firms' operational, financial and market performance (measured in the form of return on assets (ROA), return on equity (ROE) and Tobin's Q (TQ), respectively) in the Mediterranean countries from a stakeholder perspective.Design/methodology/approachResearch is quantitative in nature, based on a cross-sectional and time-series analysis of 203 firms listed in six Mediterranean countries for 10 years from 2008 to 2017, with 1,689 observations. The theoretical model is built on a stakeholder theory. The practical model is built on the independent variable (CSR) and the dependent variables ROA, ROE and TQ.FindingsThe findings deduced from the empirical results indicated that CSR disclosure negatively affects operational and market performance but does not affect financial performance.Practical implicationsStudying the relationship between CSR disclosure and firms' operational, financial and market performance, with the consideration of variations, can bring many benefits internally by being more conscious of important activities that should be undertaken and externally by detecting what regulators and other stakeholders want for better sustainable development.Originality/valueThis research adds value to the existing limited literature of CSR disclosure on firm's performance in the Mediterranean countries, and it gives tips of advice for firms to manage CSR disclosure wisely.

Purpose The increasing incidence of fraudulent financial reporting by firms in recent years raises concerns about investors' confidence in capital markets. Academicians and industry practitioners adopt diverse risk management techniques to detect fraudulent reporting of financial statements. This paper aims to determine the effectiveness of the Beneish M-score and Altman Z-score models for the early detection of material misstatements at Comscore, Inc., a media analytics firm in the United States of America. Design/methodology/approach The financial statements of Comscore Inc. from 2012 to 2018 were analyzed with the primary objective of early fraud detection by employing the Beneish M-score and the Altman Z-score. Findings The study’s outcomes indicate that the Beneish M-score is less predictable in fraud detection compared to the Altman Z-score. The study results did not confirm the efficacy of the Beneish model in predicting fraudulent financial statements. The study concludes that the choice of forensic tool greatly influences fraud detection outcomes. Practical Implication The research findings can guide the policy decision-making of investors, financial auditors, and forensic auditors as this study provides some evidence of the effectiveness of forensic tools in the detection of financial statement fraud in corporate entities. Originality/value This is the first study to apply these two widely used tools to the most recent big corporate scandal: Comscore, Inc.

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PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to establish the relationship between intellectual capital (IC) and employees' productivity (EP) in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.Design/methodology/approachThe value-added intellectual coefficient (VAIC) is used to measure IC performance in 198 firms listed in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain from 2012 to 2014. The pooled-corrected estimation technique is used to estimate a panel regression model with EP as the dependent variable. Firm size and sectors are controlled for in the regression analysis. The independent variable (IC) has been measured using human capital efficiency (HCE), structural capital efficiency and capital employed efficiency (CEE) in order to measure the value of IC.FindingsBased on the VAIC, the authors found that the values of IC investments are mostly generated from investments in human capital. The results of the panel-corrected ordinary least square indicate that VAIC and its individual components are positive and significantly related to variations in employees' productivity. HCE contributed the highest and CEE contributed lowest VAIC.Originality/valueThe originality of this paper is to show the importance of investment in the human capital as a key contributor of firm's performance. Hence, this study encourages firm's leaders and management in the GCC to invest and focus their management/leadership styles on human capital to achieve their goals. To the best of the knowledge of the coauthors, this is the first study which empirically examines the relationship between IC and EP in the GCC region.

In Middle Eastern countries, Integrated Reporting <IR> concept is gaining momentum and companies are adopting it in non-standardize way however, it is not mandatory by law. The current study is aimed at exploring <IR> among five listed insurance companies in Bahrain and its effects on their financial performance (Return on Assets assumed). Content, descriptive and linear regression analyses were employed to analyze the collected data over a period of four years from 2012 to 2015. The research findings suggested that there is a wide variation of companies’ compliance with <IR>, and the use of non-uniform disclosure formats. The content elements whose level of disclosures appeared to improve include the external environment and organizational overview, governance, and outlook, while there is a decreasing level of disclosures that are witnessed for risk and opportunities. The business model, strategy and resource allocation have a positive and significant relationship with Return on Assets (ROA), while risk and opportunities and performance elements negatively, but significantly related to ROA. This research will help the policy makers, regulators, investors, companies, researchers and analysts to understand the importance of <IR>. Further, it provides the broad understanding and application of <IR> to the researchers, academicians and students communities.

This research aims to examine the level of compliance of International Accounting Standard 38 (IAS 38, intangible assets) among the listed companies of Bahrain Bourse. This paper employs the method of equal weighted disclosure index to determine if the listed firms are complying with the disclosure requirements of the IAS 38. The required data for the year 2016 has been obtained from Bloomberg. The research found that firms have a compliance of 35.4%. The regression analysis results showed that there is a correlation between IAS 38 disclosure and the size of audit firms, leverage, profitability and industry type. There is a lack of relationship between IAS 38 disclosure and age & size of the company. This research serves as the basis of a future study on IAS 38 in different countries in emerging markets.In order to assure high performance and implementation of IAS 38, all firms listed in Bahrain Bourse ought to increase the level of compliance.

The aim of this research is to assess the relationship between the presumed AI influencing factors and AI from the standpoint of auditors in Bahrain. Researchers have continuously identified and assessed several factors that are expected to safeguard AI and objectivity to mitigate the potential threats faced by the audit profession worldwide. As a result of the promising Bahrain Economic Vision 2030 that emphasizes on ‘fairness’ as a one of major principle, the regulators in Bahrain are expected to adopt new measures that enhance the role of auditors in maintaining fairness and transparency. This research hence investigated the subject matter in a way that intended to assess the AI influencing factors in a Bahraini context. The research is quantitative in nature, whereby questionnaires were distributed to a range of auditors representing the audit firms in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Following reliability and validity tests, the responses were analyzed descriptively, along with empirical analysis through using the Multiple Regression Model. The findings signified the substantial role of the audit regulations and related provisions in enhancing AI and impartiality, when compared to other presumed factors. The research recommendations focused on the importance of overseeing the audit firms and accounting professionals through the formation of an independent audit quality board as well as considering the adoption of a joint-audit practice for the listed companies

The purpose of this paper is to provide a critical review of the existing studies in the literature regarding real earnings management and corporate governance. The paper also addresses the gap in the real earnings management literature in the Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC) as a major market in the Middle East and proposes future research topics. Keywords: earnings management, real earnings management, corporate governance, board of directors