For the last twenty years "The Research in Finance Book Series" has been publishing papers that cover issues of significance and interest in finance and economics. The topics found in the series span a wide range and have made substantial contributions to the literature with articles from key figures in the world of finance. Volume 26, "Coping with Systemic Risk", is no exception and provides a valuable addition to the current research of finance in this area. The lead chapter sets the theme by giving insight into economic systems as packages containing multiple real options where the rational exercise of these options then shapes the outcomes from the system. Remaining chapters explore the use of commodities like oil as a means of improving the diversification of portfolios containing equities, reliability tests for traditional accounting measures to predict the onset of financial distress, the behavior of metal prices such as aluminium and steel, and other issues relevant for a better-diversified investor. Key reading for academics and practitioners alike, its audience will range from financial economists and accountants in academia to executives with financial duties.

Research in Finance seeks to provide a collection of quality research articles that reflect the current and primary issues in financial markets. Contributions include finance theory and financial practice, plus accounting issues such as reporting derivatives positions, reflecting intangible holdings, or predicting financial distress. The broad theme of this volume of Research in Finance is "Comparing the Influence upon Equity Valuation of Strategy Compared with Cash Flow Expectations." Contributions assess the strong role of strategy in equity valuation, compared with valuation of expected dividends. We also see new evidence about the triggers for financial distress in emerging countries.

The theme of Research in Finance vol. 29 is "Dealing with Crisis and Regulation." The first chapter looks for solutions to the European financial crisis, and the second provides a study of audit qualifications for accounting firms in Spain using advanced empirical methods. The next chapters are more international in focus, with topics including: business strategies for competition in Mexico; anomalies in the real return on corporate equity compared to real assets; the stabilizing influence of commodity futures trading in oil and gold. The following chapters explore the unintended consequences and burdens of regulations, for example the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and other more deeply underlying factors in the financial markets. The regulatory examination then shifts to the electric power grid, and some unintended consequences of the new regulations requiring retail utilities to buy all the power produced by wind and solar generators linked to their grid.

The theme of this volume is "Dealing with Volatility and Enhancing Performance". The lead chapter sets the theme by giving insight into using the Chicago Board Option Exchange Volatility Index (CBOE VIX) futures in hedging strategies for equity market investors (and hedge funds). During a time when there is much concern about the perceived volatility of global equity markets, the insights offered here could be reassuring as well as useful. The second chapter offers insights into the efficiency (or lack thereof) of attempts for forecast global earnings. Then, the third chapter offers new insights into an issue that has been important for many decades, but which promises to become more topical in the years to come. That is the question of when and why the people who make the business work should also be the owners. Remaining chapters offer further insights into recent trends in "in-house" mergers/acquisitions activity, purchases and sales of real options, project risk, electricity derivatives, corporate governance in Europe, and emerging markets.

The theme of this volume is 'Recovering from Financial Crisis'. The lead chapter sets the theme by giving insight into the recent surge in going-private transactions (and the corresponding reduction of Initial Public Offerings). The author develops evidence (reaching back 25 years) that going-private transactions tend to be inversely related with the return on diversified equity portfolios, suggesting that the recent upswing in going-private transactions in the United States is not simply the result of the Sarbanes - Oxley Act of 2002. The second chapter offers insights into the recent round of hedge fund failures. Then, the third chapter offers new insights into some of the more controversial aspects of private equity arrangements - when private equity arrangements are expressed as real options, the actions of the managing partners are more readily understandable. The fourth chapter offers insights into why commodity producers (such as oil companies) choose not to hedge, so that their stock can offer shareholders the opportunity to gain valuable diversification benefits using the stock as a pure play in the commodity. Remaining chapters offer further insights into recent trends in IPO activity, lease versus purchase decisions, agency costs, project risk, and emerging markets.

Research in Finance seeks to provide a collection of quality research articles that reflect the current and primary issues in financial markets. Contributions include finance theory and financial practice, plus accounting issues such as reporting derivatives positions, reflecting intangible holdings, or predicting financial distress. The volume starts with empirical investigations of the impact from macroeconomic variables upon equity values in emerging economies compared with developed economies. Next is an empirical affirmation of the efficiency of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) electricity exchange. Next we find several investigations into the efficacy of efforts to stimulate the arousal of emerging nations around the world.

The broad theme of Volume 32 of Research in Finance is "The Spread of Financial Sophistication Through Emerging Markets Worldwide." Contributions assess the spread of Initial Public Offerings, the use of derivatives to provide stability, corporate governance in emerging markets, and the privatization of the Russian economy. We also gain new insights into applying financial modeling in emerging markets.

The volume starts with the trends in bank deposits (and hence available financial resources) in the region around North Dakota's Bakken Formation oil reserves. Then comes a contribution analyzing how various regulatory uncertainties are undermining real estate investment. We have a study of corporate governance and firm performance for companies listed on the Indian Exchange, plus an ex-dividend analysis of emerging country stocks listed on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), where the tax rate is higher on dividends than on capital gains. Further analysis of dividend policy includes a study of how executives manage dividend growth in companies included in the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the NASDAQ Index (with data from 1989 into 2011). Also on the global stage we have analysis of systemic risk and financial contagion in Morocco. Then we also have an analysis of hedge fund performance. We also have analysis of share price response to operating cash flow in corporate bankruptcies. In the quantitative arena we have an application of the IZO Model (using a principal component approach), and improved empirical estimation of option volatility.