This dissertation consists of two empirical papers that explore recent phenomena in Banking and Microfinance Performance. Chapter 1, “Market Power and Bank Performance in MENA Countries,” examines the determinants of market power in 12 Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) countries in the aftermath of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC), specifically within six Gulf Cooperation Countries and six non-Gulf countries. We examine the dynamics of bank competition in MENA countries, provide an up-to-date assessment of market power, investigate the factors impacting bank competition, and explore the evolution of market power during the financial crisis. Our results show an overall increase in market power following the GFC for both regions. We find that bank size, capitalization, and diversification affect market power differently in the pre-crisis and post-crisis years. Larger banks enjoy cost advantages and the diversification impact on market power has decreased in the post-crisis years and the impact of capitalization on market power increased during the GFC. Overall, banks with higher capitalization can better weather the crisis. Chapter 2, “The impact of firm-level characteristic and county-specific attributes on the performance and efficiency of the Microfinance institutions,” estimates the impact of country-specific macro-variables and firm-specific attributes on the financial performance and the efficiency of microfinance institutions (MFIs). We use a large international up-to-date database consisting of over 10,000 firm-years for MFIs over 89 countries during the period 2008-2015. Several interesting findings emerge: a) regulation and outreach are negatively correlated. b) There is a negative and highly statistically significant correlation between the percentage of female borrowers and loan size, which is evidence of “mission drift”. c) An increase in the percentage of female board member has positive and statistically significant effect on MFIs profitability and ROA; which emphasizes the importance of female participation in leading position in MFIs.

Cette thèse explore la dimension financière de la performance export. Notre réflexion s'articule autour de deux études. La première, à visée exploratoire, présente dans un modèle théorique syncrétique général mais également spécifique à la filière vin, l'ensemble des déterminants (financiers et non financiers) de la performance export des PME. Nous y avons également testé l'existence de ces déterminants sur la performance export (ventes export et intensité export) d'un échantillon d'entreprises exportatrices de la filière vin française. A partir de cette étude préalable, nous avons pu, dans une étude approfondie, et grâce à une transposition des théories financières au contexte de l'exportation, élaborer un modèle reliant la performance export à plusieurs déterminants financiers (besoins financiers, structure financière et contrainte financière) de manière globale, mais aussi en fonction du niveau de développement export des PME. La performance export a été évaluée non seulement à travers l'intensité export, mais également par une mesure innovante de performance financière. Ce modèle a ensuite été testé sur un échantillon de 311 PME exportatrices. Les analyses confirment l'existence de besoins financiers spécifiques. La structure financière ainsi que le niveau de contrainte financière évoluent en fonction du niveau de performance export alors qu'une situation de fragilité financière généralisée est constatée quel que soit le niveau de performance export. / This thesis explores the financial dimension of export performance, for which we noticed insufficient theoretical developments. Our research consists in two studies. The first one is exploratory and presents a syncretic theoretical model of SMEs export performance determinants (both financial and non financial) in general and in the wine industry. In this study, we also test this model on the export performance (export sales and export intensity) of a sample of French wine companies. Then, by adapting financial theories to exporting, we build a model relating export performance to several financial determinants (financial needs, financial structure and financial constraint) first globally and then according to the export development of SMEs. Export performance is assessed not only through export intensity but also through an innovative financial performance measure. This model has been tested on a sample of 311 exporting SMEs. Analyses confirm the presence of specific financial needs. The financial structure as well as financial constraints evolve according to the level of export performance while a general financial fragility is observed whatever the level of export performance is.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:25:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Leandro Rick.pdf: 426431 bytes, checksum: bd0b42ac2a96c4981f26a2e96b334742 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-08-10 / Fundo Mackenzie de Pesquisa / The Operational Working Capital Requirement (WCR) is the net investment needed to keep the operating cycle. There is no specific theory on Working Capital and, in Brazil; there are few studies about its operational and financial determinants. This empirical research test, in part, a model proposed by Hill, Kelly and Highfield (2009), with Brazilian companies, in the post-Real Plan. The results show differences in the regression coefficients that may be due to macro-economic specificity and typicality of Brazilian economic sectors. This study contributes to the management of working capital, and opens prospects for alternatives to traditional methods of quantification of the WCR. / A Necessidade de Capital de Giro (NCG) Operacional é o investimento líquido necessário para manter os ciclos operacionais. Embora haja bastantes estudos sobre Capital de Giro nos EUA e Europa, ainda não há uma teoria específica sobre o mesmo e, no Brasil, poucos estudos sobre seus determinantes operacionais e financeiros foram realizados. Esta dissertação testa, parcialmente, um modelo proposto por Hill, Kelly e Highfield (2010), com empresas brasileiras, no período pós-Plano Real. Os resultados evidenciam diferenças nos coeficientes das regressões que podem ser devidas à especificidade macroeconômica brasileira ou à tipicidade dos setores de atividade econômica. Este estudo contribui para a gestão do capital de giro e abre perspectiva para alternativas aos tradicionais métodos de quantificação da NCG.

<p>This thesis explores and explains the existence of a best practice model to optimise the transfer of funds (&ldquo / the transfer funding process&rdquo / ) between funders and service providers in the public sector. Using ideas about best practice in a specific context, the Health environment, it investigates the perceptions of managers about the transfer of funds between the Provincial Government of the Western Cape and the Local Authority of the City of Cape Town, the existence of a formula that will indicate appropriate amounts to transfer to service providers, and how information systems might assist with the process and the formula.</p>

<p>This thesis explores and explains the existence of a best practice model to optimise the transfer of funds (&ldquo / the transfer funding process&rdquo / ) between funders and service providers in the public sector. Using ideas about best practice in a specific context, the Health environment, it investigates the perceptions of managers about the transfer of funds between the Provincial Government of the Western Cape and the Local Authority of the City of Cape Town, the existence of a formula that will indicate appropriate amounts to transfer to service providers, and how information systems might assist with the process and the formula.</p>

Magister Commercii (Information Management) - MCom(IM) / This thesis explores and explains the existence of a best practice model to optimise the transfer of funds (the transfer funding process) between funders and service providers in the public sector. Using ideas about best practice in a specific context, the Health environment, it investigates the perceptions of managers about the transfer of funds between the Provincial Government of the Western Cape and the Local Authority of the City of Cape Town, the existence of a formula that will indicate appropriate amounts to transfer to service providers, and how information systems might assist with the process and the formula. / South Africa