Evaluating the Digital Divide: The Silver Surfer\u27s Perspective

The aim of this paper is to explore and ascertain using an information systems perspective evaluation framework, the factors that are encouraging the adoption and usage of online products and services, namely, in this case, broadband, within one particular population group – the silver surfer. Data were collected through e-mail, interviews and an online survey within OECD and non-OECD countries. The findings of this study illustrate that technical factors were not of primary importance. Non-technical factors were considered to be fundamental and clearly need to be taken into consideration when encouraging silver surfers to be come online interactive. What was also discovered is that interest, whether in technological or non-technological factors as well as communication are very pertinent in adopting and using technology. This research should offer a substantial contribution to various stakeholders including government agencies, management consulting firms, Internet Service Providers and IT organizations that may want to identify what drives the online interactions of silver surfers. This will also assist government agencies to understand the problem of low adoption and formulate a strategy to promote awareness and diffusion. The contribution to theory that this research offers is the development of an evaluative framework that has a household perspective and emphasises the silver surfers. Further, the framework should be applicable to both OECD and non- OECD countries provided the administered survey instrument is in the indigenous language and there is immense awareness to the questionnaire

Accounting for decarbonisation and reducing capital at risk in the S&P500

This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of the following article: Colin Haslam, Nick Tsitsianis, Glen Lehman, Tord Andersson, and John Malamatenios, ‘Accounting for decarbonisation and reducing capital at risk in the S&P500’, Accounting Forum, Vol. 42 91): 119-129, March 2018. Under embargo until 7 August 2019. The final, definitive version is available online at doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.accfor.2018.01.004.This article accounts for carbon emissions in the S&P 500 and explores the extent to which capital is at risk from decarbonising value chains. At a global level it is proving difficult to decouple carbon emissions from GDP growth. Top-down legal and regulatory arrangements envisaged by the Kyoto Protocol are practically redundant given inconsistent political commitment to mitigating global climate change and promoting sustainability. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and European Commission (EC) are promoting the role of financial markets and financial institutions as drivers of behavioural change mobilising capital allocations to decarbonise corporate activity.Peer reviewe

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITS) : A new business model in the FTSE100

CC-BY-NC-NDThis paper is about the Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) business model. REITs benefit from tax concessions and Fair Value Accounting (FVA) practices. REITs distributing over 90 percent of profits can obtain tax concessions for their shareholders. This encourages profit distribution at the expense of accumulating retained earnings in shareholder equity. The financial viability of REITs depends upon FVA because this records holding gains when property values are increased. These holding gains can be employed to generate additional financial leverage. However, REITs are exposed to property market volatility and this can quickly undermine solvency, credit ratings and financial stability.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

Financialization directing strategy

Original article can be found at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/01559982 Copyright Elsevier Ltd. DOI: 10.1016/j.accfor.2008.08.001This paper constructs an account of how financialization is directing strategy in the S&P 500. Financialization describes how changes in US accounting regulations require firms to account for the market value of capital market transactions where corporate strategy is not simply concerned with delivering value creation but also reacting to value absorption in an era of shareholder value. Financialization is directing strategy and arbitrage to modify stakeholder financial settlements where an increased share of income is extracted as surplus cash and more of this cash from operations is being distributed to shareholders. Share buy-backs account for a substantial increase in the share of corporate cash distributed to shareholders in the S&P 500 which, we argue, reflects a strategic process of value creation and value absorption.Peer reviewe

Financialized accounts : A stakeholder account of cash distribution in the S&P 500 1990-2005

In this paper, we construct a financialized account of corporate restructuring in S&P 500 survivor firms where corporate transactions are accounted for at fair value or are marked to market. Accounting practitioners are preoccupied with the technical aspects of fair value reporting, but the outcome of absorbing wealth accumulation into corporate sector balance sheets is not simply a neutral technical issue. In financialized accounts blending current income and expenditure with capital market value amplifies the need to distribute cash to equity holders. In financialized accounts realignments generated by a product market downturn are magnified because value at risk and corrective restructuring will be wired into balance sheet fair value not historic costPeer reviewe

Foundation economy: the infrastructure of everyday life

Privatisation, market choice, outsourcing: these are the watchwords that have shaped policy in numerous democratic states in the last generation. The end result is the degradation of the foundational economy. The foundational economy encompasses the material infrastructure at the foundation of civilised life - things like water pipes and sewers - and the providential services like education, health care and care for the old which are at the base of any civilised life. This book shows how these services were built up in the century between 1880 and 1980 so that they were collectively paid for, collectively delivered and collectively consumed. This system of provision has been undermined in the age of privatisation and outsourcing. The book describes the principles that should guide renewal of the foundational economy and the initiatives which could begin to put these principles into practice

Foundation economy: the infrastructure of everyday life

Privatisation, market choice, outsourcing: these are the watchwords that have shaped policy in numerous democratic states in the last generation. The end result is the degradation of the foundational economy. The foundational economy encompasses the material infrastructure at the foundation of civilised life - things like water pipes and sewers - and the providential services like education, health care and care for the old which are at the base of any civilised life. This book shows how these services were built up in the century between 1880 and 1980 so that they were collectively paid for, collectively delivered and collectively consumed. This system of provision has been undermined in the age of privatisation and outsourcing. The book describes the principles that should guide renewal of the foundational economy and the initiatives which could begin to put these principles into practice