The impact of digital accounting practices on agency costs management: Evidence from an emerging market
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Author(s)Mohammad AltawalbehLink to ORCID Index: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8083-8273
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DOIhttp://dx.doi.org/10.21511/afc.07(1).2026.06
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Article InfoVolume 7 2026, Issue #1, pp. 66-77
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Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Type of the article: Research Article
The increased penetration of digital technologies has significant implications for the role of digital accounting practices in enhancing corporate governance, particularly in emerging markets where agency problems are more serious. This study aims to investigate the impact of digital accounting practices on agency costs management in emerging markets. Using the theoretical foundations of agency theory and institutional theory, the study investigates the role of the application of blockchain technology and artificial intelligence in the management of agency costs and the efficiency of financial reporting. The study used a balanced panel data set comprising 72 non-financial and financial firms listed on the Amman Stock Exchange from 2018 to 2023. To investigate the impact of applying digital accounting practices, the study used a multi-model approach by employing a fixed-effect regression model with a propensity score matching approach and a difference-in-differences approach. The study found that adopting digital accounting practices by firms is associated with a significant reduction in monitoring costs evidenced by a reduction in audit fees, a reduction in bonding costs captured by a reduction in the reliance on fixed management compensation, and a slight improvement in the efficiency of financial reporting. Industry-level analysis showed that financial sector firms are more inclined towards the application of digital accounting practices due to the regulatory environment, while the application of digital accounting practices by industrial sector firms is less pronounced resulting from capability constraints. The study provides empirical support that digital accounting practices can be used as a cost-efficient mechanism of corporate governance in the context of emerging markets.
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JEL Classification (Paper profile tab)M41, M10, G32
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References34
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Tables7
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Figures0
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- Table 1. Variable definitions
- Table 2. Descriptive analysis
- Table 3. Correlation matrix
- Table 4. Fixed-effect regression results
- Table 5. PSM results (average treatment effect on the treated)
- Table 6. Difference-in-differences estimates
- Table 7. Summary of hypotheses testing across methods
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Fintech in the eyes of Millennials and Generation Z (the financial behavior and Fintech perception)
Mohannad A. M. Abu Daqar ,
Samer Arqawi ,
Sharif Abu Karsh
doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.21511/bbs.15(3).2020.03
Banks and Bank Systems Volume 15, 2020 Issue #3 pp. 20-28 Views: 11701 Downloads: 3205 TO CITE АНОТАЦІЯThis study investigates the Millennials and Gen Z perception toward Fintech services, their usage intention, and their financial behavior. The study took place in the Palestinian context with a global comparison among these generations. The authors used the questionnaire-based technique to meet the study objective. West Bank respondents were selected for this purpose; the study instrument was distributed through different social media channels. The findings show that reliability/trust and ease of use are the main issues in using a financial service. Millennials are more aware (48%) of Fintech services than Gen Z (38%), which is different from the global view where Gen Z is the highest. The smartphone penetration rate is 100% among both generations, while the financial inclusion ratio in Palestine is around 36.4%; these clear indicators are the main Fintech drivers to promote Fintech services in Palestine, and these are global indicators for Fintech adoption intention. Both generations (84%) intend to use e-wallet services, Millennials (87%) and Gen Z is (70%) prefer using real-time services. Half of the respondents see that Fintech plays a complementary role with banks. The majority see that Fintech services are cheaper than bank services. Wealth management, and robot advisor services, and both generations are looking to acquire them in the long run. The authors revealed that 85% of respondents from both generations trust banks, so it is recommended that banks digitize their financial services to meet the customers’ needs, considering that 90% of respondents see that promotions are a key issue in adopting Fintech services. Promoting e-wallet services by banks is highly recommended due to the massive rivalry with Fintech parties.
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Selection of the right proxy market portfolio for CAPM
Rashmi Chaudhary ,
Priti Bakhshi
doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.21511/imfi.18(3).2021.02
Investment Management and Financial Innovations Volume 18, 2021 Issue #3 pp. 16-26 Views: 4865 Downloads: 1903 TO CITE АНОТАЦІЯThe purpose of the paper is to select the right market proxy for calculating the expected return, since critically evaluating proxies or selecting the correct proxy market portfolio is essential for portfolio management because the change in the market portfolio proxy affects returns. In this study, monthly data of equity indices are evaluated to find out the better market proxy. The indices taken are BSE 30 (Sensex), Nifty 50, BSE 100, BSE 200, and BSE 500. The macroeconomic variables used in the study are industrial production index (IIP), consumer price index (CPI), money supply (M1), and exchange rate in India. To avoid the influence of COVID-19, the research period was from January 2013 to December 2019 to critically evaluate these proxies in order to find the most appropriate market proxy. This paper reveals a noteworthy relationship between stock market returns and macroeconomic factors, while suggesting that the BSE 500 is a better choice for all equity indices, as the index also shows a significant relationship with all macroeconomic variables. BSE500 is a composite index comprising all sectors with low, mid and large cap securities, therefore it reflects the impact of macroeconomic factors most efficiently, taking it as a market proxy. This study was carried out in the context of India and can be replicated for other countries.
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Civil servants’ readiness for AI adoption: The role of change management in Morocco’s public sector
Mohamed Barodi 
,
Siham Lalaoui
doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.21511/ppm.23(1).2025.05
Problems and Perspectives in Management Volume 23, 2025 Issue #1 pp. 63-75 Views: 4401 Downloads: 966 TO CITE АНОТАЦІЯThe rapid digital transformation of public systems has improved interactions between governments and citizens. In Morocco, while efforts to digitalize public administration continue, the integration of artificial intelligence presents new challenges due to structural and technical limitations. This study explores the openness of Moroccan civil servants to adopting artificial intelligence solutions and examines the role of change management in facilitating this process. A quantitative approach was employed, with 129 civil servants from key ministries – Education, Finance, and Health – completing an online questionnaire. These ministries were selected due to their critical importance in the public system and their frequent interactions with citizens. Furthermore, they played a central role in the National Administrative Reform Plan (2018–2022), which emphasized digital transformation as a key pillar in advancing e-government. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS, enabling a comprehensive analysis of the factors influencing AI adoption. The findings reveal that while younger civil servants are more open to AI, over 40% of respondents pointed to insufficient digital skills as a major barrier to artificial intelligence integration. The study underscores the importance of effective change management strategies, highlighting that strong leadership and clear communication are essential in promoting artificial intelligence receptiveness and ensuring seamless integration within Morocco’s public sector.
