Qualitative Research in financial Markets最新文献

Purpose

This study aims to understand the lapse behavior of life insurance policyholders. Despite being accessible for nearly two centuries, only a small fraction of individuals purchase such policies and many of those who do let them lapse. The belief hypothesis model (BHM) is introduced to elucidate the correlation between policyholders' beliefs and their decisions regarding life insurance lapses.

Design/methodology/approach

BHM establishes a comprehensive linkage between core beliefs, external data and the lapse behavior exhibited by policyholders. To derive policyholders’ core beliefs about life insurance lapses, the authors conducted a semistructured, in-depth interview with 42 policyholders and 11 insurance advisors, using a grounded theory approach with zero-order, first-order and second-order coding.

Findings

The study's findings reveal that policy lapsation is influenced by various factors such as policyholders' beliefs about life insurance, process-related attitudes, trust in insurers and advisors and personal financial viewpoints. Policyholders who consider life insurance unnecessary or misunderstand its purpose are likelier to lapse their policies. Cumbersome documentation processes and technical issues also contribute to policy lapsation, emphasizing the significance of simplified procedures. Trust in insurers and advisors, personal financial literacy and payment preferences influence policy lapsation.

Practical implications

The findings of this research can be practically applied by companies to improve customer retention and by regulatory bodies to encourage policyholders to honor their insurance commitments.

Originality/value

Distinguishing itself from conventional hypotheses-driven and factor-centric models, BHM integrates consumer beliefs, thus enriching comprehension and decision-making insights.

Purpose

This paper aims to provide insight on internal Shariah audit change process in Islamic banking institution using sociology of translationin and the identification of specific Islamic legal maxim (ILM).

Design/methodology/approach

This paper gathered findings using qualitative approach where a single case study was selected. The study began with a preliminary study to assist the selection of the case study and later two phases of interviews done at the institution selected as the case study.

Findings

This paper has provided insights into the internal Shariah audit practices change using sociology of translation that incorporated ILM as the basis to strengthen the Islamic banking operations by achieving maqasid al-Shariah (MS). The findings of this paper provide distinguished insight on internal Shariah audit change process and ILM. The significance of this study is that a new contribution through exploring the viewpoints of the perception that satisfying the minimum legal requirements of Shariah compliance may not be sufficient for proper Shariah audit in IBIs. Therefore, the existence of ILM within a change process serves as a basis for best practices to be able to achieve MS through the means (wasa’il) used in realising IBIs’ objectives.

Originality/value

The application of ILM to internal Shariah audit change process that would guide Muslim auditors to be in line with Islamic principles. This paper focuses on the application of ILM to the Shariah audit practices changes as ILM embodied ethical value to the general concept of maslahah (well-being) under MS in the period of post-COVID-19.

Purpose

This paper aims to understand the impact of big data on the UAE audit profession. Mainly exploring whether the emergence of big data threatens the reliability of audit standards and whether audit standards need to be improved. Also, exploring the impact of big data on the collection of audit evidence.

Design/methodology/approach

Semistructured interviews were used to collect data, mainly targeting the audit-related workers of the Big Four and Non-Big Four audit firms in the UAE. Thematic analysis is adopted to analyze the original data, and the main factors affecting the audit standard and audit evidence collection.

Findings

This study found that the reliability of audit standards and the way audit evidence is collected can be affected by big data. It concludes that audit standards need to be improved and strengthened to include detailed essential elements associated with big data to ensure audit reliability, legitimacy and regularity. The results also identify the impact of big data on audit evidence in terms of adequacy, appropriateness, authenticity, consistency and reliability, as well as the impact on the validity and completeness of evidence collection. The research highlights the importance of big data skills and knowledge education, the contribution and challenges of big data to auditing, and the use of big data in future auditing.

Originality/value

This research provides specific empirical evidence from both Big Four and Non-Big Four audit firms in the UAE, which is lacking in the literature on the use of big data technology by auditors to assist audit works in UAE. It may serve as a reference for other researchers or those interested in relevant research.

Purpose

The main purpose of this study is to identify the determinants that inhibit the adoption or usage of digital payment systems (DPSs) in India.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a qualitative technique, including in-depth semi-structured interviews. Data analysis was conducted using thematic analysis, incorporating both deductive categorisation and inductive coding to identify factors responsible for the non-adoption or discontinuation of DPS use.

Findings

The findings are in the form of themes and sub-themes that were generated from the data analysis: digital divide (DD), which includes the digital access divide, digital capability divide and digital innovativeness divide; socio-demographic divide (SD), which includes education, geographical location, gender, age and income; psychological barriers, which include a lack of perceived ease of use, vulnerability to risks, technophobia and a lack of trust; and other barriers, which include a lack of awareness, a cash-dominated society and a lack of interoperability.

Research limitations/implications

The factors identified in this research can be further validated and tested in future studies using quantitative data. This will enable stakeholders to better comprehend the impacts of these factors on DPS adoption or usage.

Practical implications

The study’s practical implications are specifically relevant to the Union Territory (UT) administration of Ladakh, as there is a DD and an SD among different sections of the population of the UT of Ladakh. UT administrations must prioritise efforts to eliminate these divides. The implications for banks and DPS providers are that they should conduct financial literacy training about DPSs in remote rural areas and invest in developing user-friendly and simplified DPS user interfaces to improve relationships with DPS users and their long-term retention.

Originality/value

The findings of this study reveal the three levels of the DD that determine DPS adoption or usage, which have not been discussed together in the literature in the DPS context and that must be addressed to expand DPS adoption, thus providing a more holistic view of the DD in the context of DPS.

Purpose

This paper aims to provide an overview of the current state of debt advisory services and good practices in Europe.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors examine how debt advisory services are organised in different European countries and how they can be used to address the phenomenon of over-indebtedness.

Findings

Debt advisory services seem to be varied and fragmented. There are few good practices that stand out, whereas in some countries there are no services available at all.

Originality/value

This study provides an updated and comprehensive review of good practices and suggests some measures for evaluating the effectiveness of debt advisory services.

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the financial well-being and social capital of Indian retirees. The paper investigates the extent of subjective financial well-being, the dependence on debts and the extent of bridging and bonding social capital of retirees with similar retirement pensions to understand the main issues they face.

Design/methodology/approach

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 32 retired government schoolteachers. Two individuals transcribed the interviews after a pilot study, which helped remove repetitive responses. After ensuring the authenticity of the transcripts, the data was analyzed using interpretive phenomenological analysis.

Findings

The study's key findings reveal that retirees, armed with a clear understanding of their retirement income, exhibit a sense of financial control. At the same time, the presence of debt and the potential for high healthcare expenses adversely impact their subjective financial well-being. In terms of social capital, retirees predominantly rely on support from close-knit communities of friends and neighbors, as against their children. Additionally, retirees who migrate from their native places encounter challenges in establishing bridging social capital.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the ongoing discourse on financial well-being, specifically within the context of vulnerable groups such as retirees in India, where the absence of a state-supported retirement system adds a distinctive dimension. Against the backdrop of India's traditional societal framework, the research extends the existing literature by delving into the nuanced effects of evolving social dynamics on the social capital of retirees.

Purpose

This study aims to comprehensively inspect the impact of blockchain technology in the context of globalization, focusing on the most influential research works, scientific production by countries, commonly used keywords, trending topics and the conceptual and intellectual structure of this field.

Design/methodology/approach

A bibliometric analysis was conducted in R Studio, involving the review and scrutiny of 194 research papers indexed in the Scopus database. This analytical approach allowed for a systematic examination of the literature and the identification of key patterns and trends in blockchain and globalization research.

Findings

The analysis revealed the most influential research contributions, highlighted countries with significant scientific production, identified frequently used keywords and unveiled emerging trends and areas of focus in the field of blockchain and digitization. Additionally, the study explores prospective research directions.

Research limitations/implications

This research provides insights into the current state of blockchain and globalization research, offering valuable information for scholars, policymakers and industry professionals. The recognized themes provide a systematic structure for upcoming inquiries, directing studies toward vital domains like supply chain management and sustainable development. Moreover, the analysis emphasizes the significance of interdisciplinary collaboration and provides practical insights, enabling businesses and policymakers to enhance transparency, counteract fraud and adjust to the digital era for societal and economic advancement.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the prevailing literature by steering a comprehensive analysis of the interplay between blockchain technology and globalization, shedding light on influential works and emerging trends. It adds value by providing a structured overview of the field's intellectual landscape.

Purpose

This paper aims to evaluate the processes and strategies of Nigerian banks towards achieving financial inclusion and offer recommendations for policies that can lead to effective and sustainable financial inclusion.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper conducts semi-structured interviews with senior executives of Nigerian banks to investigate their financial inclusion policies and practices.

Findings

This paper highlighted Nigerian banks’ views on dimensions that measure financial inclusion and found that they recognise that they play a pivotal role in providing access to formal financial services; however, their efforts to promote financial inclusion are provider-focused rather than customer-focused; they are keen to promote financial services usage; however, very little attention is paid to customer outcomes; financial inclusion is viewed as synonymous with access and innovations are not aiming for impact; and the sector is plagued with infrastructural challenges that breach service quality.

Originality/value

This paper reports on the practices of Nigerian banks towards financial inclusion and provides recommendations for rethinking sustainable financial inclusion. To date, this issue has not been investigated in the substantive literature. Nigeria is an ideal research site for examining financial inclusion. In recent years, the banking sector has made rapid strides in implementing policies to promote the adoption and usage of formal financial services. However, over half of the country’s adult population remains outside the formal financial system.

Purpose

Although women-owned small and medium enterprises (SMEs) represent only 21.1% of all SMEs in South Africa, they play a fundamental role in the SME sector in terms of job creation, employment and poverty alleviation that is critical for economic growth. This study aims to explore (FFIs) financing of women-owned SMEs in South Africa from a credit provider perspective (supply-side).

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative research approach positioned in the interpretivistic research paradigm was used to accomplish this study objectives. The five-step process of content analysis proposed by Terre Blanche, Durrheim and Kelly was used to analyse the qualitative data collected from the 16 participants via semi-structured in-depth interviews.

Findings

The findings reveal that FFIs are willing to finance women-owned businesses provided they can contribute a reasonable percentage of the equity capital and a first-class collateral. Lack of equity, business experiences and first-class collateral are the most serious challenges faced by FFIs when considering lending to women-owned SMEs.

Originality/value

This study investigated the financing of women-owned SMEs in South Africa from a supply-side perspective, compared to other studies that used quantitative methodology. This study findings provide insights into how FFIs perceive financing women-owned SMEs, women-owned SMEs credit approval rate, the factors that influence the willingness of FFIs to provide credit to women-owned SMEs and the challenges experienced by FFIs in financing women-owned SMEs.

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide evidence on the relationship between artificial intelligence (AI) and financial inclusion to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs), an agenda set by United Nations for 2030. Financial inclusion is an enabler of 8 of the 17 SDGs. This paper emphasizes the introduction of AI in the financial sector, which is indispensable for achieving financial inclusion and plays a crucial role in the achievement of SDGs.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts qualitative research methodology to highlight the significance of AI in achieving high levels of financial inclusion in an economy. Both narrative and comparative approaches are used to provide empirical evidence for reaching the UN SDGs target through AI-assisted financial inclusion.

Findings

AI implementation in finance enables people to take part in the formal financial sector and thus, enhances economic growth and reduces poverty.

Research limitations/implications

This research is limited in its data. Only five top AI applications are chosen and comparison is made between two countries only. Future research should consider it as an established concept and include more data to strengthen the evidence.

Practical implications

The results of this paper will help policymakers convince governments and institutions to put their efforts toward AI implementation in financial infrastructure of countries.

Originality/value

This research is unique in providing real-life examples and cases demonstrating the significance of AI implementation in the financial sector. Recent literature lacks evidence on the relationship of AI, financial inclusion and SDGs. This study adds to the existing literature by compiling data on top AI applications and comparing the performance of countries in achieving financial inclusion with the help of AI.