Availability and Accuracy of Accounting and Financial Data in Emerging Markets: The Case of Malaysia

As investor and researcher interest in emerging markets increases, the question of the availability and reliability of financial information pertinent to these markets becomes more and more important. This paper examines the availability and quality of accounting information on Malaysian firms contained in three different, widely available databases: Disclosure, Infostat and PACAP. An analysis of the firm coverage and and transcription policies of these databases reveals systematic differences that could give rise to a database effect on research findings. The paper identifies these differences and demonstrates, where possible, ways to adjust for them. L'intérêt croissant des investisseurs et des chercheurs envers les marchés émergents pose avec acuité la question de la fiabilité et de la disponibilité de l'information financière et comptable relative aux entreprises de ces pays. Cet article analyse la fiabilité de l'information comptable disponible sur les entreprises de Malaisie dans trois bases de données largement utilisées : Disclosure, Infostat et PACAP. L'analyse de l'ensemble des entreprises couvertes, des données et des pratiques de transcription révèle d'importantes différences qui peuvent influencer de façon importante les résultats des travaux empiriques. L'article identifie ces différences et indique de quelle façon il est possible d'en tenir compte.Emerging markets, accounting data, Malaysia, databases, Marchés émergents, données comptables, Malaisie, banques de données

Availability and Accuracy of Accounting and Financial Data in Emerging Markets: The Case of Malaysia

L'intérêt croissant des investisseurs et des chercheurs envers les marchés émergents pose avec acuité la question de la fiabilité et de la disponibilité de l'information financière et comptable relative aux entreprises de ces pays. Cet article analyse la fiabilité de l'information comptable disponible sur les entreprises de Malaisie dans trois bases de données largement utilisées : Disclosure, Infostat et PACAP. L'analyse de l'ensemble des entreprises couvertes, des données et des pratiques de transcription révèle d'importantes différences qui peuvent influencer de façon importante les résultats des travaux empiriques. L'article identifie ces différences et indique de quelle façon il est possible d'en tenir compte.As investor and researcher interest in emerging markets increases, the question of the availability and reliability of financial information pertinent to these markets becomes more and more important. This paper examines the availability and quality of accounting information on Malaysian firms contained in three different, widely available databases: Disclosure, Infostat and PACAP. An analysis of the firm coverage and and transcription policies of these databases reveals systematic differences that could give rise to a database effect on research findings. The paper identifies these differences and demonstrates, where possible, ways to adjust for them

Change & Maintaining Change in School Cafeterias: Economic and Behavioral-Economic Approaches to Increasing Fruit and Vegetable Consumption

Developing a daily habit of consuming fruits and vegetables (FV) in children is an important public-health goal. Eating habits acquired in childhood are predictive of adolescent and adult dietary patterns. Thus, healthy eating patterns developed early in life can protect the individual against a number of costly health deficits and may reduce the prevalence of obesity. At present, children in the United States (US) under-consume FV despite having access to them through the National School Lunch Program. Because access is an obstacle to developing healthy eating habits, particularly in low-income households, targeting children’s FV consumption in schools has the advantage of near-universal FV availability among more than 30 million US children. This chapter reviews economic and behavioral-economic approaches to increasing FV consumption in schools. Inclusion criteria include objective measurement of FV consumption (e.g., plate waste measures) and minimal demand characteristics. Simple but effective interventions include (a) increasing the variety of vegetables served, (b) serving sliced instead of whole fruits, (c) scheduling lunch after recess, and (d) giving children at least 25 minutes to eat. Improving the taste of FV and short-term incentivizing consumption of gradually increasing amounts can produce large increases in consumption of these foods. Low-cost game-based incentive program may increase the practicality of the latter strategy