The Effects of the Board on Corporate Performance. Evidence from Cameroon Banks

Using a sample of 10 selected banks annual reports covering 2010-2015, this study examines the relationship between corporate governance and performance in Cameroon banking sector. Based on the econometric model, the result indicates that improved performance of the banking sector is not dependent on increasing the number of executive directors and board composition. It shows further that when there are more external board members; performance of banks tends to be worse. The study concludes a need for increase in board size and decrease in board composition as measured by the ratio of outside directors to the total number of directors in order to increase the bank performance

Corporate Tax Avoidance and Firm Profitability

The idea of trying to reduce an organization’s tax expense is considered as old as the inception of taxation itself as organizations are always trying to exploit loopholes in the complexities of the existing tax system. The traditional motive for such practices is to reduce expenses, thereby increasing the firm’s net profit. In view of this, tax avoidance has always been considered as being in the interest of the shareholders, as it is intended to increase value. However, this view has greatly been questioned in recent researches. Taking data from the annual reports and financial statements of firms listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE), we empirically tested whether tax avoidance of a firm really translates to increase in value or profitability. Employing a standard Ordinary Least Square regression model, we test our hypotheses using SPSS statistical tools. Our findings confirmed a negative relationship between the tax avoidance measure (ETR) and the measure of profitability (ROA). We conclude that tax avoidance could translate into profitability or value due to the balance of expertise and professionalism exhibited. We recommend that a firm need to have a good corporate governance structure in place, particularly the board structure, since they are in a better position to influence management’s decisions and actions, in order to achieve the intended benefits of such practices

The Impact of Carbon Disclosure on Financial Performance under Low Carbon Constraints

In the context of low-carbon constrained development, in order to avoid the risk brought by climate change, more and more companies choose to disclose carbon information, respond to the national policy of carbon emission reduction and focus on the sustainable development of enterprises. This paper will investigate the impact of carbon disclosure on financial performance based on the 2011–2018 CDP report, taking the Fortune 500 companies as a sample. The study finds that for carbon-intensive industries, carbon disclosure cannot significantly contribute to the improvement of financial performance in the current period, but for carbon-non-intensive industries, carbon disclosure can significantly contribute to the improvement of financial performance in the current period, and the positive impact of carbon disclosure on financial performance in the current period can be extended to the next period. Finally, based on the findings of the empirical study, this paper puts forward policy recommendations for the construction of China’s carbon disclosure system

Corporate Governance and Performance of Firms: An Empirical Evidence from the Banking Sector of Ghana

Abstract. The study investigates the relationship between corporate governance and the performance of banks in Ghana in terms of their financial performance. Primary and Secondary data were collected through the administration of interview questionnaires and from the Ghana Association of Bankers respectively. In analyzing the data, panel data methodology was used. The findings show that large board size, long serving CEOs, size of audit committee, audit committee independence, foreign ownership, institutional ownership, annual general meeting and dividend policy are positively related and associated with the financial performance of banks in Ghana. The banks are encouraged to adopt good corporate governance practices to improve on their financial performance and also protect the shareholders. Most importantly, the regulatory authorities must ensure compliance with good corporate governance and apply the appropriate sanctions for non-compliance to help the growth and development of the banking sector. The main contribution of the study to knowledge lies in its effort in strengthening corporate governance beyond the rights and responsibilities of different stakeholders in the management of a firm into areas involving the relationship between finance providers and a firm, compliance with legal, ethical and environmental needs of the society among others. This contribution has in no small way helped in enhancing my understanding about the interpretations which have shaped the corporate governance in relation with performance of the firm both in theory and practice

Seasonal distribution and diversity of ground arthropods in microhabitats following a shrub plantation age sequence in desertified steppe.

In desertified regions, shrub-dominated patches are important microhabitats for ground arthropod assemblages. As shrub age increases, soil, vegetation and microbiological properties can change remarkably and spontaneously across seasons. However, relatively few studies have analyzed how ground arthropods respond to the microhabitats created by shrubs of different plantation ages across seasons. Using 6, 15, 24 and 36 year-old plantations of re-vegetated shrubs (Caragana koushinskii) in the desert steppe of northwestern China as a model system, we sampled ground arthropod communities using a pitfall trapping method in the microhabitats under shrubs and in the open areas between shrubs, during the spring, summer and autumn. The total ground arthropod assemblage was dominated by Carabidae, Melolonthidae, Curculionidae, Tenebrionidae and Formicidae that were affected by plantation age, seasonal changes, or the interaction between these factors, with the later two groups also influenced by microhabitat. Overall, a facilitative effect was observed, with more arthropods and a greater diversity found under shrubs as compared to open areas, but this was markedly affected by seasonal changes. There was a high degree of similarity in arthropod assemblages and diversity between microhabitats in summer and autumn. Shrub plantation age significantly influenced the distribution of the most abundant groups, and also the diversity indices of the ground arthropods. However, there was not an overall positive relationship between shrub age and arthropod abundance, richness or diversity index. The influence of plantation age on arthropod communities was also affected by seasonal changes. From spring through summer to autumn, community indices of ground arthropods tended to decline, and a high degree of similarity in these indices (with fluctuation) was observed among different ages of shrub plantation in autumn. Altogether the recovery of arthropod communities was markedly affected by seasonal variability, and they demonstrated distinctive communal fingerprints in different microhabitats for each plantation age stage

Means (±SEs) of total abundance, taxonomic richness, and Shannon’s diversity index of ground arthropods between microhabitats for each plantation age in different sampling periods.

<p>Means (±SEs) of total abundance, taxonomic richness, and Shannon’s diversity index of ground arthropods between microhabitats for each plantation age in different sampling periods.</p

RDA two-dimensional ordination diagram of the first two axes showing the relationship between the community composition of ground arthropods and environmental variables.

<p>RDA two-dimensional ordination diagram of the first two axes showing the relationship between the community composition of ground arthropods and environmental variables.</p