Audit for Whom? Time to Review Roles of Independent Auditors in Hong Kong

The Hong Kong government has been reforming its laws regarding accounting practices in recent years, to pre-empt problems similar to that of Enron. It correctly recognizes an opportunity to enhance and distinguish the financial system in Hong Kong and create a competitive advantage for Hong Kong. The sixty-five billion dollar question is: what is the right approach for accounting practice reform? One obvious approach is to model reform after the Sarbanes Oxley Act (SOX). The SOX increases personal liabilities of senior management and introduces extremely cumbersome compliance processes (s 3 (b)(ix) of Minutes of Bills Committee of Financial Reporting Council Bill. (19 July 2005)). While this approach may be the right move for the United States, because rescuing investor confidence is paramount, a similar approach may not be optimal for Hong Kong. Hong Kong relies, to a great degree, on foreign investments and a heavy-handed approach may scare investments away (Charles E. Schumer &; Michael R. Bloomberg To Save New York, Learn from London, Wall Street Journal 1 Nov 2006). This paper, argues that failure of independent auditors was mainly caused by bad incentives. In particular, auditors were hired by and responsible to the management of companies. Thus, there is no surprise that auditors were less diligent in finding problems caused by management. Furthermore, proposing of an alternate to the SOA’s approach. Specifically, a new legal approach should be enforced that allows shareholders to sue auditors when failure to uncover accounting issues causes loss of shareholders’ values.     

The influence of bankruptcy law on equity value of financially distressed firms: A European comparative analysis

The reaction of stock prices to bankruptcy filing has been frequently analysed in the financial literature. In this paper we adopt a different approach to that of traditional study, and endeavour to determine whether the reaction of markets is conditioned by the orientation of bankruptcy law. Our results lead us to conclude that it is actually the type of bankruptcy law that conditions the valuation of firm's stocks. We have also found that the drop in share value is greater in creditor-oriented systems, while the negative returns are lower in debtor-oriented systems.     

国际金融危机下的菲律宾银行业

菲律宾银行业在经历国际金融危机过程中,虽然盈利能力有所下降,但基本运行状况良好,经营风险程度有所改善。这得益于菲律宾政府一系列积极有效的应对危机的措施。尽管如此,菲律宾银行业整体仍存在监管滞后及资产管理水平比较落后等亟待解决的问题。     

What could Development Studies be?

Over the past 10–15 years there has been an expansion of interest in the subject of Development Studies (DS). There are now significantly more taught courses focused on DS, and research funds are booming. However, over the same period, DS has faced sustained critiques about its essential nature. This has led us to ask: what is Development Studies? And what could or should it be?     

International volunteering for development and sustainability: outdated paternalism or a radical response to globalisation?

This article discusses the history and evolution of international volunteer-sending agencies and volunteers as a response not only to symptoms but also to causes of global poverty and inequality. It considers how international volunteers might be defined, what makes their role different from other forms of overseas development assistance (particularly their contribution to capacity development), and the positives and negatives that may accompany those differences. It also reflects on international volunteers' suitability as contributors in the transition to a globally more ecologically sustainable state, presenting some insights from volunteers and other stakeholders.     

公共财政体制的宪政之思——公共财政体制的正义品性、民主品质和法治品格

公共财政是国家权力公共化的基础,失去了公共财政的公共性,就不能保证国家权力的公共性,更不能确保国家权力仅用于提供公共服务。为此,必须确保公共财政体制具有正义品性、民主品质和法治品格。财政正义体现为国家与公民财产征收关系的合理、适度。财政民主就是政府依法按照民众意愿,通过民主程序,运用民主方式来理政府之财。财政法治要求遵循法律保留原则,实行财政法定。     

国际金融危机对世界政治的五大影响

2008年9月从美国爆发的国际金融危机对世界政治产生了五方面的深远影响,一是国际战略格局多极化进入加速发展的新阶段,二是大国竞争与合作交织发展,大国关系复杂重组,国际机制变革加快,三是区域一体化明显提速,世界地缘战略重心加快东移亚洲,四是发展模式更趋多样化,五是中国有效应对国际金融危机,经济崛起步伐加快。     

预算管理"三不"问题之解决与预算法制建构路径

现代法治国家的财政活动,包括组织收入活动、财产支出活动以及与此相关的财产计划管理与运营活动三个方面,它们均以财政民主主义为基础,并由财政民主主义实现对全部国家财政活动的统合.在财政民主主义之下,现代预算法制是对国家施政计划及其财政计划的实质性管控,需要遵守预算内容上的完全性原则、时间上的年度性与事前性原则、形式上的单一...     

Institutional Arrangements and State and Local Financial Forecasting

Abstract

The articles in this symposium present various consequences that effectively result in changes from adopted budgets during the implementation phase, which derive from institutional structure. The institutional structures referred to include such attributes as internal policy, procedural methodology, longevity in office, and reward and incentive systems related to performance outcomes

For local governments, structural influences studied include changes in leadership in the executive and legislative branches, longevity in office of budget administrators, and differences related to mayor-council vs. council-manager forms of government. Internal policies reported on cover methodology used to forecast revenues such as quantitative methods versus informed judgment, budgetary controls and spending policy related to mandated spending beyond local government control, and procedures for benchmarking within the agency as well as with peer groups and professional standards.

Consortia of governments are referenced regarding performance evaluation as is the process for gaining consensus between the executive and legislative branches, including expert outside opinion. Other influences on performance outcomes reported on are those tied to the risk-reward system built in to the institutional structure, which includes risk tolerance of the individuals who make pension fund investments.