KIMEP University

About: KIMEP University is a education organization based out in Almaty, Kazakhstan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Corporate governance & Government. The organization has 185 authors who have published 426 publications receiving 5098 citations.

The Aral Sea: A Story of Devastation and Partial Recovery of a Large Lake

Abstract: The Aral Sea was a huge brackish-water lake lying in a tectonic depression amidst the deserts of Central Asia. Water bodies of various dimensions have repeatedly filled this depression over the past several million years. Its modern incarnation is thought to be somewhat more than 20,000 years in age. In modern times, the sea supported a major fishery and functioned as a key regional transportation route. But since the 1960s, the Aral has undergone rapid desiccation and salinization, overwhelmingly the result of unsustainable expansion of irrigation that largely dried up its two tributary rivers, the Amu Dar’ya and Syr Dar’ya (dar’ya in the Turkic languages of Central Asia means river) before they reached the Aral Sea. The desiccation of the Aral Sea has had severe negative impacts, including, among others, the demise of commercial fishing, devastation of the floral and faunal biodiversity of the native ecosystems of the Syr and Amu Deltas, and increased frequency and strength of salt/dust storms. However, efforts have been and are being made to partially restore the sea’s hydrology along with its biodiversity, and economic value. The northern part of the Aral has been separated from the southern part by a dike and dam, leading to a level rise and lower salinity. This has allowed native fishes to return from the rivers and revitalized the fishing industry. Partial preservation of the Western Basin of the southern Aral Sea may be possible, but these plans need much further environmental and economic analysis.

Emotional Trust and Cognitive Distrust: From A Cognitive-Affective Personality System Theory Perspective

Abstract: The objective of this research is to identify the role of trust and distrust in online shopping mall business. To differentiate the status of distrust from low trust, cognitive-affective personality system theory was applied, through which five types of psychological units were proposed. The research model proposed seven hypotheses showing the processes through which the features of an online shopping mall – truthfulness and effectiveness of the website affect trust, distrust levels, and behavior of individual customers. Assuming that trust and distrust are in psychologically different stages, the study further proposed that distrust, which emerges and diminishes rather cognitively, is the antecedent of trust. Then trust, which emerges and diminishes as an emotion-based variable, is posited as the antecedent of customer loyalty. To validate, a survey was conducted with 310 Korean online shopping mall users. Results show that six out of seven hypotheses are supported. From the result, we draw following discussions. First, trust and distrust are different in terms of their psychological status, and trust seems to be the more critical factor in the online business context. Second, both effectiveness and truthfulness are found to be important sources of customer loyalty. However, unlike our expectation, only effectiveness showed a direct association with customer loyalty while truthfulness had an indirect impact through trust.

Corporate governance and firm performance in the oil and gas industry of russia

Abstract: This study explores corporate governance practices in Russian oil and gas companies over the 2009-2012 periods and examines the relationship between accounting performance measures and corporate governance mechanisms. Our findings suggest that managerial ownership and foreign ownership are positively associated with firm performance. Similarly, the results on government ownership also support our initial hypothesis and indicate that government ownership positively affects accounting performance. However, our findings suggest that board size and independent directors on the board do not appear to affect firm performance. This study demonstrates that corporate governance practices implemented in developed markets have some relevance and synergies to transition economies such asRussia.

Accounting for good governance: the fair value challenge

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe and analyze the accounting standards reforms that have moved the accounting profession away from rules‐based towards principles‐based accounting practice and financial reporting, and to explore the implications for boards of directors of fair value estimates of the unknowable contaminating financial statements with financial misstatementsDesign/methodology/approach – The paper critically reviews the internationally accepted accounting, auditing and financial reporting standards with respect to fair value accounting and relates them to directors' fiduciary duties – the duties of care, of oversight, and of obedienceFindings – The search for relevance in financial accounting raises daunting challenges for boards of directors tasked with fairly presenting the financial condition of a reporting business entityResearch limitations/implications – The accounting profession has long been epistemologically conservative, judging reliability to be more important t

Prospects for European sustainable rail freight transport during economic austerity

Abstract: Purpose Economic growth is defined as growth in the capacity to meet individual and collective consumption demands. Decline in economic growth for a longer period (i.e. recession) occurs as a part of the “The Limits of Growth” concept. During such an economic crisis, three policy concepts can be implemented: “austerity”; “business as usual”; and “fiscal stimulus”. The purpose of this paper is to examine the economic response to the 2008 recession, in the area of sustainable transport system development, in Europe. Design/methodology/approach The study assesses and identifies the need for investments in transport infrastructure, in particular rail, to remove barriers to developing a sustainable multimodal transport system. Towards this, by analysing secondary data collected from relevant online sources, the paper explores the prospects for sustainable rail freight transport development in Europe, during the recession period. For this, eight EU countries were selected, based on the length of railway lines in use: France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden and the UK. Findings Investment in five transport infrastructures were examined – road, rail, IWT, maritime ports and airports – and the research finds that overall, the “austerity” policy was implemented for investment in rail infrastructure, whereas a modest “stimulus” policy can be observed for investment in road infrastructure. The average investment in IWT infrastructure had a “stimulus” policy, whereas the average investment in Maritime port and Airport infrastructure suggests a “business as usual” policy. Of the various approaches taken in the recent recession period, European rail transport appears to have fared least well. Research limitations/implications To some extent, the research is limited by lack of some data (e.g. data unavailability on the UK airport infrastructure investment from year 2006). Practical implications The findings of the research will encourage policy makers in national government to invest in sustainable transport infrastructure. Originality/value The study suggests that there is a lack of uniform policy response to the recession, in terms of investment in transport infrastructure, and that there is a significant difference between the policy goals set by the EU – modal shift from road to rail and/ IWT to develop a sustainable transport system – and their practice. The author argues for an integrative, common and action-oriented approach to sustainable rail freight system development, by European countries, to develop effective, Europe-wide rail freight corridors, under schemes such as Horizon 2020 and Shift2Rail.