Key research themes
1. How can financial statement components be utilized effectively by investors in making investment decisions?
This theme investigates the practical relevance and impact of different elements of financial statements—such as income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements—on the decision-making process of investors. It addresses how investors interpret and leverage this information to assess company performance and make informed investment choices, with a focus on empirical evidence from different investor groups and regions.
2. What factors influence the quality and reliability of financial statements, and how does this affect financial reporting outcomes?
This research area focuses on the determinants of financial statement quality, emphasizing adherence to accounting standards, internal control systems, and accounting information systems. The investigation explores how these factors shape the accuracy, transparency, and trustworthiness of financial reports, which in turn influence users’ confidence and the overall effectiveness of financial communication.
3. How do cognitive and behavioral factors, such as heuristics and biases, impact investment decisions of SMEs, and can financial literacy mitigate these effects?
This theme explores the intersection of behavioral finance and financial statement analysis by examining how SMEs’ investment decisions are influenced by cognitive biases, specifically representativeness bias. It investigates to what extent financial literacy can act as a mediating factor to reduce biased decision-making, thereby improving investment outcomes and resource allocation in SME contexts.