Showing papers by "Joshua Abor published in 2014"

Bank Finance and Export Activities of Small and Medium Enterprises in Ghana

Abstract: Abstract This study examines SMEs’ access to bank finance and how that affects their export activities. The study adopts a probit model to assess the empirical relations. The findings of the study suggest that SME access to bank finance improves their likelihood to export. Such finance is critical to cater for the high fixed costs of exporting, international marketing and branding, and meeting higher quality standards required for overseas markets. The results of the study also indicate that older firms, more productive firms, and larger firms are more likely to take the important step of entering into the export market. Policy interventions should therefore be directed at reducing the bottlenecks that prevent SMEs from accessing funding from the commercial banks.

What influence dividend decisions of firms in Sub-Saharan African

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the determinants of the dividend decisions of firms in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Design/methodology/approach – The paper applies a two-step estimation procedure using firm-level panel data for firms in selected SSA countries during the period from 1997 to 2007. In the first step the paper employs a probit model to estimate the parameters of the determinants of the decision to pay or not to pay dividends. In the second step the paper estimates the parameters of the dividend payout and dividend per share models by applying the generalised least squares techniques. Findings – The results provide consistent evidence that dividend decision and its payments are influenced by firm profitability level, investment opportunity sets, taxation, leverage, institutional shareholding and risk. The results affirm the signalling, agency cost and free-cash flow theories of dividend policy. Originality/value – The main value of this paper is identification of factors that in...

Agency Conflict and Bank Interest Spreads in Ghana

Abstract: This study examines the relationship between interest rate spreads in the Ghanaian banking industry and variables that reflect convergence/divergence between managerial goals and corporate goals of which the key variables are executive compensation and bank ownership structure. Using data covering the period 1999–2011, this study employs a panel regression to examine how agency factors affect interest rate spreads in Ghana. The results of the study indicate that executive compensation is associated with higher net interest margins, suggesting that managers operate on higher margins since they can extract excess rents. The findings of the study also show that asset size, the level of concentration in the banking industry, the level of capital held by banks, the reserve requirement, and the level of inflation all positively contribute to the observed high interest spreads. Our results are robust to the control of several bank-specific, industry-specific, regulatory and macroeconomic factors.

Risk and performance of non-bank financial institutions

Abstract: This study examines the risk levels of Non-Bank Financial Institutions (NBFIs) and their effect on performance. A panel data analysis of 42 NBFIs over the period of 2006-2010 is used for the study. The results show that NBFIs have been safe as far as bankruptcy is concerned, over the period under study. The risk index used as a measure of overall risk levels show a high mean risk level suggesting that the risk of insolvency of NBFIs in Ghana has been low. The results of the study also establish that lower risk levels lead to an increase in performance of NBFIs. It is further shown that the size of NBFIs has a positive relationship with performance. The results also show that further increases in size of NBFIs measured as the squared of size has a positive impact on performance.