Majd Munir Iskandrani

This study investigates the empirical effects of implementing the Expected Credit Loss (ECL) model under IFRS 9 on capital budgeting decisions within the Jordanian banking sector. The analysis is based on a full population of all 13 Jordanian commercial banks listed on the Amman Stock Exchange from 2013 to 2023. Using panel data regression models, the study evaluates changes in three key financial ratios: Capital to Assets (CA), Equity to Assets (EA), and Loans to Assets (LA).
The findings reveal that adopting the ECL model led to a statistically significant increase in CA by 0.3% (p = 0.04), suggesting that banks have strengthened capital buffers in anticipation of higher provisioning requirements. Conversely, the EA ratio declined sharply by 1.1% (p < 0.01), indicating equity reallocation to absorb credit risks. Most notably, the LA ratio fell by 3% (p = 0.006), highlighting a more conservative lending approach post-ECL implementation. Each model exhibited strong explanatory power (R² values between 0.79 and 0.87), supporting the robustness of the results.
These outcomes confirm that IFRS 9 has triggered a structural shift in how Jordanian banks manage capital and credit risk. The study underscores the critical need for adaptable capital strategies in emerging markets, where regulatory changes like IFRS 9 can significantly reshape financial behavior and resource allocation.

This study undertakes an investigation into the nexus between board characteristics and research and development (R&D) investments within the specific context of Jordan. Employing a dataset comprising 24 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) operating in the service and manufacturing sectors and enlisted on the Amman Stock Exchange (ASE) throughout the period from 2010 to 2023, the empirical findings substantiate that the dimensions of the board, mainly board size and independence, exert a positive influence on the intensity of R&D expenditures. However, gender diversity exerts an inverse impact on R&D spending. Consequently, organizations with a tendency toward sustaining innovation endeavors are encouraged to accord heightened consideration to fostering gender diversity during the board selection process. However, CEO duality reveals an insignificant influence on R&D expenditures. To conclude, the study’s outcomes enrich the existing array of findings on the influence of women directors on board independence, particularly in R&D spending. Furthermore, the study offers policy recommendations, enhancing comprehension of the influence of women’s representation on R&D spending.