Country's affairs are greatly impacted by shifts in government; thus, the availability of research on current happenings within governmental policy and relations is imperative to keep citizens informed. Uncertainties and Risk Assessment in Trade Relations presents an innovative examination of the ambiguities of foreign importing and exporting and its impact on governmental aspects such as global relations and financial stability. Featuring coverage on a range of topics including border adjustment, tax reforms, and liquidity regulation, this publication is targeted towards academicians, researchers, and students interested in the recent happenings and opinions of international trade.

The decisions a corporation makes affect more than just its stakeholders and can have wide social, environmental, and economic consequences. The notion of corporate social responsibility (CSR) describes the relationship between a business and society as a whole, considering all tangential effects of business. This facilitates a business environment built around practical regulations and transparency necessary to ensure ethical and responsible business practice. Analyzing the Relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility and Foreign Direct Investment explores the relationship between ethical and environmental standards and foreign investment on the international market. As certain jurisdictions are hesitant to comply with these standards, this publication elucidates the benefits of practicing CSR as a means of sustainable economic growth and to mitigate devastating negative consequences, especially in the developing world. This book is a key reference source for professionals, economists, students of business and finance, policy makers, and government agencies.

Among banking industries and insurance and security sectors, systemic risk and information uncertainty can generate negative consequences. By developing solutions to address such issues, financial regulation initiatives can be optimized. Value Relevance of Accounting Information in Capital Markets is an essential reference source for the latest scholarly research on the importance of information asymmetries and uncertainties and their effects on the overall regulation of financial industries. Featuring extensive coverage on a wide range of perspectives, such as financial reporting standards, investor confidence, and capital flows, this publication is ideally designed for professionals, accountants, and academics seeking current research on the effects of the underlying elements in investing.

As well as highlighting how corporations and enterprises -- national or multinational -- can be effectively engaged in entrepreneurship and innovation as a means of fulfilling corporate social responsibility goals and objectives, this book aims to propose means whereby auditors (and particularly, external auditors) could more effectively fulfil corporate governance roles through implementation of local, regional, national and internationally recognised codes, regulations, and standards. Whether it is advantageous to regulate both securities investments and consumer financial instruments through a single entity (as is accomplished by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom), or through various specialised agencies (as is accomplished in the United States through the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau) depends on the structure of the "single entity" and whether such an entity is still working as part of a larger entity whose effectiveness is primarily determined by the extent and level of coordination and cooperation with other entities in the supervisory process. As the tripartite arrangement between the Financial Services Authority, Bank of England and the Treasury has revealed, even well-designed regulatory structures are prone to flaws and shortcomings, where resources are inadequately allocated and where the necessary level of communication and coordination is lacking. The structure of financial regulation is hence not only crucial to the success of the attainment of regulatory objectives, but also the extent of involvement, coordination, and cooperation between involved supervisory authorities. Further, the allocation of appropriate tools and resources to those authorities who are best endowed, equipped with the expertise to carry out the required level of monitoring and supervision, as well as clear allocation of such responsibilities, would ensure resources of time and expertise are not wasted, and that responsibilities are not duplicated. As well as highlighting the impact of asymmetric information on levels of monitoring procedures and how conflicts of interests could arise between corporations and their shareholders or between governments and the firms being regulated by the regulator, this book also aims at accentuating the need for the operation of certain vital safeguards, given the merits that are and could be derived from self-governance and self-regulation. Several safeguards that are aimed at bolstering the agent's objectives and actions are closely monitored, as well as aligned with firm investors' desires, encompass and relate to the encouragement of longer term firm economic performance. This also includes increasing shareholder voting power, and the implementation of legislative tools and financial reporting standards as means of determining how effectively executives and management are to be compensated. Finally, this book is also aimed at exploring how these safeguards could be applied, particularly within the context of insider trading and the rationale behind several jurisdictions to adopt or not adopt insider trading regulations. The author seeks to provide the readers with a better understanding of how corporate governance structures can assist businesses.

This book attempts to address why central bank independence still lacks certain vital attributes which embody adequate governance and accountability mechanisms - which are necessary if better results in relation to longer term economic and political objectives, in particular, are to be achieved. As well as a consideration of why the lender of last resort facility should be used for emergency situations and systemically relevant institutions in particular, an interesting point which will be considered in this publication is the comparison between the European Central Bank (ECB) Recommendation and its application by the Commission in the Re capitalisation Communication, specifically with its Annex, where the Commission explains how it determines the price of equity or own funds (ordinary or common shares) - balancing the "real value" with the "market value" within a crisis context. This publication will also consider how to transform financial crises into opportunities whereby tax burdens to taxpayers are minimised - as well as making financial markets more efficient. Given the scale of government intervention and State rescues which occurred during the recent crisis - as well as the prominence accorded to measures aimed at preventing and limiting distortions of competition, calls have been made for competition authorities to take on more formidable roles in designing and implementing exit strategies. In order to foster competition as much as possible, it is proposed that "governments should provide financial institutions with incentives to prevent them from depending on government support once the economy begins to recover."

This publication attempts to address why central bank independence still lacks certain vital attributes which embody adequate governance and accountability mechanisms - which are necessary if better results in relation to longer term economic and political objectives, in particular, are to be achieved. As well as a consideration of why the lender of last resort facility should be used for emergency situations and systemically relevant institutions in particular, an interesting point which will be considered in this publication is the comparison between the European Central Bank (ECB) Recommendation and its application by the Commission in the Re capitalisation Communication, specifically with its Annex, where the Commission explains how it determines the price of equity or own funds (ordinary or common shares) - balancing the "real value" with the "market value" within a crisis context. This publication will also consider how to transform financial crises into opportunities whereby tax burdens to taxpayers are minimised - as well as making financial markets more efficient. Given the scale of government intervention and State rescues which occurred during the recent crisis - as well as the prominence accorded to measures aimed at preventing and limiting distortions of competition, calls have been made for competition authorities to take on more formidable roles in designing and implementing exit strategies. In order to foster competition as much as possible, it is proposed that "governments should provide financial institutions with incentives to prevent them from depending on government support once the economy begins to recover."

There are some journeys in life, that we may undergo without any sense of purpose or direction - at the outset. It is only in the middle, at the end of these journeys, or well after we have left these places of assignments, that we may realize that there was any purpose in undertaking such journeys. In the absence of the ability to adequately plan for such journeys, there may be wonderful persons who assist, or consciously and unconsciously are planted to assist with such a journey............................

In unspoken words, I love you means, I love your character, imperfections, habits and weaknesses. I need you more than you realise, not just because of what, I can get from you, but because, I also derive fufilment and unexplainable joy, from being needed. In other words, a symbiotic and not parasitic, relationship. A mutual, and not one-sided, love.

The Role of External Auditors in Corporate Governance and Financial Reporting not only recommends means whereby a variety of internal issues can be addressed but also considers various ways in which the external auditor and audit committees contribute to the process of corporate governance. Problems related to asymmetric information, information disclosure, transparency between corporate managers and shareholders, and factors contributing to insider trading are covered as well as the various ways in which the external auditor and audit committees can contribute towards enhancing corporate governance structures and measures. The impact of bank regulations, such as Basel III capital requirements, on risk taking and the need for a consideration of ownership structures are other issues which are examined. In acknowledging the issues raised by ownership structures, the book considers theories such as the banking theory and corporate governance theory. It also considers other alternatives whereby risk taking can be controlled, including developments which are contributory to the rise of Finance Theory. In recommending the external auditor's expertise as appropriate for addressing agency problems whereby corporate managers, at the expense of shareholders, are compelled to act in their own interests, The Role of External Auditors in Corporate Governance and Financial Reporting, draws attention to the audit committee's roles, presenting them as being both as a vital and complementary as corporate governance tools. It also highlights the importance of measures which need to be in place if the external auditor's contribution to corporate governance is to be maximized. Even though an ideal and single model for corporate governance does not exist, through an analysis of selected jurisdictions, this book aims to provide corporate managers and business executives with a better understanding of how their corporate governance structures can be modelled to maximize the benefits which effective corporate governance mechanisms could provide.

The Financial Services Act 2012 ('the Act') introduced: "important changes to the regulatory framework of financial services in the United Kingdom, many of which affect the Bank of England. The Financial Services Authority (FSA), which was previously responsible for regulation of financial firms from both a 'prudential' and 'conduct' perspective, will cease to exist." See Bank of England Quarterly Bulletin 2013 Q1, page 20 Even though immense changes have taken place since 2008, this publication, as well as the entire study, focusses on, considers and necessitates an in-depth analysis of the structure and system of regulation which was in force in the UK, Germany, Italy and the U.S between 2004 and 2008. Through a comparative analysis of selected jurisdictions, the book examines how the external auditor could assist the then existing regulator, Financial Services Authority (FSA), the UK's financial services regulator, in carrying out its regulatory and supervisory functions. It also considers how the FSA could implement its supervisory and enforcement tools in addressing the issue of audit liability.

This book is focussed on investigating how a proper implementation of forensic accounting tools could serve as a means and channel whereby such techniques as valuations, equitable distribution and evidence could be employed in avoiding unnecessary break ups and emotional breakdowns. Through the exploration of options which are available to marital couples considering separation or divorce during periods of crises, the book aims to emphasise the theme that a break from the relationship may be the step required to avert a break-up. The role of forensic accounting in facilitating an amicable process during such a break - which could result in the possible restoration of relationships involved during such a crucial stage also constitutes a recurring theme of the book. It is a well known fact that financial problems constitute the source of break-downs in many relationships. Whilst other factors may contribute to failures in relationships and whilst some couples may have finalised their intentions and require very little assistance in getting through such painstaking processes, others may have their decisions influenced by court procedures, counselling sessions and the proper application of equitable distribution procedures - such equitable distribution procedure being considered a preferred technique in resolving marital asset distributions than the community property concept. Further this book highlights factors which need to be taken into consideration - not only in averting unnecessary break-ups, but also in facilitating harmonious and amicable settlements which may eventually pave the way for reconciliation, as well as the restoration of broken down relationships. Whilst planning of marital asset distribution should not constitute the focus of any marriage, planning when the need arises may serve not only as a channel whereby a relationship can be restored eventually, but as a temporary means of weathering the storms during the difficult times in the relationship.