A Blockchain-Based Approach Towards Overcoming Financial Fraud in Public Sector Services

In financial markets it is common for companies and individuals to invest into foreign companies. To avoid the double taxation of investors on dividend payment - both in the country where the profit is generated as well as the country of residence - most governments have entered into bilateral double taxation treaties, whereby investors can claim a tax refund in the country where the profit is generated. Due to easily forgeable documents and insufficient international exchange of information between tax authorities, investors illegitimately apply for these tax returns causing an estimated damage of 1.8 billion USD, for example, in Denmark alone. This paper assesses the potential of a blockchain database to provide a feasible solution for overcoming this problem against the backdrop of recent advances in the public sector and the unique set of blockchain capacities. Towards this end, we develop and evaluate a blockchain-based prototype system aimed at eliminating this type of tax fraud and increasing transparency regarding the flow of dividends. While the prototype is based on the specific context of the Danish tax authority, we discuss how it can be generalized for tracking international and interorganizational transactions

Blockchain Technology in Business and Information Systems Research

Peer reviewe

Sustainable Development Report: Blockchain, the Web3 & the SDGs

This is an output paper of the applied research that was conducted between July 2018 - October 2019 funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and conducted by the Research Institute for Cryptoeconomics at the Vienna University of Economics and Business and RCE Vienna (Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development).Series: Working Paper Series / Institute for Cryptoeconomics / Interdisciplinary Researc

Sustainable Development Report: Blockchain, the Web3 & the SDGs

This is an output paper of the applied research that was conducted between July 2018 - October 2019 funded by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and conducted by the Research Institute for Cryptoeconomics at the Vienna University of Economics and Business and RCE Vienna (Regional Centre of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development).Series: Working Paper Series / Institute for Cryptoeconomics / Interdisciplinary Researc

A Conceptual Study on the Role of Blockchain in Sustainable Development of Public–Private Partnership

Background: Studies have highlighted how public–private partnerships are characterized by a lack of transparency, low availability of data, low accountability, and, often, strong opportunism. All these factors do not allow potential interested parties to trust it. This undermines the possibility of good cooperation between the public and private sectors and has presented a great limit for the Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) diffusion. Several articles in the literature highlight, in general, the numerous advantages generated using the blockchain in different organizations. The adoption of blockchain in the operation of PPPs could be a solution to overcome the limitations encountered in public–private partnerships. The aim of this study is to propose a theoretical framework aimed at connecting two topics (PPPs and Blockchain)—analyzed separately by literature—to highlight how blockchain can correct the limitations inherent to the functioning of traditional PPPs. Methods: The authors applied a qualitative research method to examine the role of blockchain from a PPP perspective. The authors present a conceptual work in which they advance a theoretical framework by integrating and proposing new relationships between constructs and developing logical arguments for these associations. Through a problem-focused approach, besides presenting a solution to overcome the critical issues, the authors also put forward ideas to help fill a gap in the literature to date. Results: The study showed that blockchain can generate a major shift in the function of PPPs. On the one hand, it makes it possible to overcome many limitations that have hindered the development of partnerships, thus making it possible to spread them further, while on the other hand, it has a positive impact on the strategic role of PPPs in achieving sustainable development goals. Conclusions: Blockchain technology is considered very immature, probably because a single underlying standard does not exist and concepts are difficult to master. Based on state-of- the-art standards, blockchain has the potential to be considered a transformative or even disruptive innovation for PPPs

Does blockchain technology have anything to say in the oil and gas industry: the study of opportunities, challenges, and future trends

This research focuses on the utilization of blockchain as an emerging technology in the oil and gas industry with the aim to advance the understanding of blockchain technology adoption in this industry. Through conducting qualitative research based on semi-structured interviews with managers and decision makers in the oil and gas industry and by overviewing the literature, the current opportunities, challenges, and adoption barriers of this technology were investigated. Findings indicated that despite the rapid progress of digital technologies, the adoption of blockchain technology in the oil and gas industry is a slow process due to the conservative and inherently resistant nature of the industry. Although there is evidence proving that the technology is capable of increasing the efficiency and operational transparency in the industry, there are still challenges mainly due to lack of business and managerial support, awareness, and expertise about blockchain technology within the oil and gas industry or immaturity and complexity of the technology. Different categories of blockchain adoption barriers were detected together with the presentation of some solutions to overcoming these barriers. Additionally, the drivers and influential factors in the adoption of the technology were discussed. The future of blockchain technology in the oil and gas industry is considered to be promising based on the participants’ opinions and the evidence from successful use cases