Audit for Accountability in China: An Incomplete Mission

This article argues against the conventional wisdom that accountability is the raison d'être of auditing activities. Audit, admittedly, is a part of the accountability architecture as it contributes to the financial health of a government and the effective management of public money. This does not mean, however, that audit necessarily generates accountability. China's experience with establishing a power audit regime shows that without enabling goals, impartial structural arrangements, and effective procedures, auditing for accountability only remains an incomplete mission.     

Developing the school financial audit model

This paper examines the development of school＇s financial audit model. The overall sample consists of 100 school auditors in Malaysia. Field work covered 4 states in the northern part of the Peninsular Malaysia, i.e., Perak, Pulau Pinang, Kedah and Perlis. A structured questionnaire with 41 closed ended items was used to collect the data. This study uses quantitative method such as correlation, chi-square and multiple regression analysis to test the variables. The finding confirms that the school financial audit model consists of general standard, audit work standard and reporting standard. This model can be used by various parties including private entities, state education department and other government agencies.     

国家治理视域下国有企业审计工作的转型

作为国家审计重要组成部分的国有企业审计,不仅关系着国有资产的安全和保值增值,而且关系到国民经济的健康、稳定和有序发展。基于国家治理的视角,对转型经济中国有企业审计的准确定位、把握方向、科学实施等实际问题与发展困境进行了深入思考。在现有国有企业审计工作实践的基础上,通过树立"审计是国家治理的工具"新理念、转变固有企业审计思维方式、优化企业审计人员专业和知识结构等,从理论和实践路径等多重视角对基层审计机关进行国有企业审计进行了探讨,以期更好地服务于国家治理的需要。     

What is an algorithm? Financial regulation in the era of high-frequency trading

Abstract

In response to the flash crashes and market manipulations blamed on high-frequency trading (HFT), algorithms have been brought inside the regulatory perimeter. This paper focuses on the most ambitious regulation directed at the practice: the algorithm-tagging rule in the German High-Frequency Trading Act. Fifteen interviews with stakeholders in the Act’s implementation serve to reconstruct how regulators defined an algorithm and help pose the question of to what extent regulatory definitions and data need accurately to represent financial practices to be useful. Although tentative in its findings, the research suggests that the algorithm-tagging rule may be providing valuable signals in the noise to trade surveillance officers and having virtuous effects on the cultures of trading firms. The conclusion argues that sociologists of finance should adopt a more balanced approach when evaluating regulatory technologies and heed MacKenzie’s 2005 call to open up their black boxes.     

See No Evil,Hear No Evil? Assessing Corruption Risk Perceptions and Strategies of Victorian Public Bodies

This paper critically examines qualitative survey data from 36 Victorian public sector bodies on their perceptions of corruption risks, and strategies to mitigate these risks, as well as the integrity mechanisms in place. The findings indicate that even though corruption does not seem to be prevalent in these bodies it is not on their radar either, though fraud prevention was significantly present. The paper identifies international best practices of integrity management and inculcation of public service ethos in developed countries, and stresses three vital elements or pillars that combine both the ‘values’ and ‘compliance’ based approaches. These pillars are as follows: (1) specific corruption prevention programs and strategies that are additional to but complement existing anti‐fraud programs; (2) targeted anti‐corruption training, both for employees and for the public; and (3) effective leadership engagement and commitment to an ethical culture (Tone at the Top).     

论高速公路全过程财务跟踪审计

首先论述了高速公路建设实施全过程财务跟踪审计的必要性包括用以加强项目资金管理、控制造价、规范管理等;实施跟踪审计的原则;并着重阐述了财务跟踪审计的主要内容,包括审查会计信息是否失真,审查资产、负债的真实性、合法性及增减变化情况审查;有无隐瞒、收入体外循环问题,审查业主单位提供对外担保是否符合规定等。     

我国高技术产业化的金融体制约束

高技术创新的根本目标是推进新技术产品的产业化进程,促进产业结构高级化,提高本国产业的国际竞争力。我国许多新技术的产业化推进效果不够理想,一个关键的原因是面临金融体制的约束。本文分析了我国高技术产业化进程中科技贷款难的原因,论证了风险投资机制推进高技术产业化的有效作用和我国风险投资发展缓慢的原因,并提出了若干对策建议。     

国外教育公共服务改革成效与启示

从政府教育公共服务职能、公共教育的财政投入、重视基础教育事业的发展、实施教育绩效评估、完善教育公共服务多元化体系以及加强职业技术教育等方面介绍了国外有关教育公共服务的具体做法与经验,为推进我国教育公共服务的发展提供参考借鉴。     

The Politics of Climate Policy: Strategic Options for National Governments

This article summarises the results so far of an international investigation aimed at identifying political strategies that make it easier for national governments to take more effective action against climate change while avoiding significant political damage. The numerous strategic options identified included strategies involving unilateral action by governments, strategies of persuasion, damage limitation strategies, strategies that can be used in political exchange with other political actors, and strategies designed to improve the bargaining position of governments by altering the terms of political exchange. The article concludes with a shortlist of especially promising strategies.