This study investigates whether regulations have an independent effect on bank risk-taking or whether their effect is channeled through the market power possessed by banks. Given a well-established set of theoretical priors, the regulations considered are capital requirements, restrictions on bank activities and official supervisory power. We use data from the Central and Eastern European banking sectors over the period 1998-2005. The empirical results suggest that banks with market power tend to take on lower credit risk and have a lower probability of default. Capital requirements reduce risk in general, but for banks with market power this effect significantly weakens. Higher activity restrictions in combination with more market power reduce both credit risk and the risk of default, while official supervisory power has only a direct impact on bank risk.

Corporate governance, Bank performance, Board size, Board composition, G21, G34, L25, K20,

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Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate risk disclosure in listed Greek companies. The effects of the financial crisis were also considered. Design/methodology/approach This study aimed to determine the risk-reporting practices of Greek’s non-financial companies listed on the Athens Stock Exchange through a content analysis of their annual reports. Findings Risk identification and anticipation protect businesses and create shareholder value. In recent years, particularly since the economic crisis, risk has become one of the most important business issues. This study concluded that during the crisis, there was an increase in disclosure. Financial, personnel and legal risks were the most reported types of risk. This study also found liquidity to be a very important issue. Research limitations/implications Content analysis has limitations because subjectivity cannot be eliminated. This study measured only the quantity, not the quality, of risk disclosure. The quality of risk reporting will be examined in future research. Originality/value This is the first study on risk disclosure in the non-financial companies listed on the Athens Stock Exchange to conduct a content analysis of the corporate annual reports.

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