Background: The 12th of March 2020 the Stockholm stock market fell close to eleven percent, the biggest decline on the market in modern time, as a result of the Covid-19 virus. Earlier studies have found that many individual investors make ill-considered decisions during sharp price falls which don't benefit their economic interest and that every new financial crisis offers new possibilities to expand the understanding about what underlying factors that are behind the crisis. Studies about psychological shortcomings have earlier been conducted, but not in connection with a stock market crash as a result of a pandemic, which means that there is not much research within the area. Therefore, there is an incentive to investigate which psychological biases individual investors were affected by during the corona crisis. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to study how a number of Swedish individual investors acted on the stock market during the corona crisis and if it varies depending on how much capital they manage. Which of the psychological biases herd behaviour, the disposition effect, loss aversion and extrapolation bias the individual investors that were interviewed was affected by and how they reasoned during the sharp stock market decline in March 2020. Method: The thesis has been conducted by a qualitative method to fulfil its purpose. The data collection consists of 10 semi-structured interviews with Swedish individual investors and statistics from the stockbroker Avanza. An abductive approach has been adopted to be able to analyse the studied subject and reach a conclusion. Conclusion: The thesis finds that the actions of the investigated individual investors can be divided into three categories. The ones that sold all their stocks when the stock market declined rapidly, the ones that didn’t do anything and the ones that bought more stocks successively. There is no clear connection between managing more money and getting less affected by psychological biases. Furthermore, the respondents were partly affected by how much earlier experience they had, whereas the ones with less experience were to a greater extent affected by psychological biases.

Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka vad ESG har för påverkan på privatainvesterare vid investeringsbeslut. I studien undersöks även hur den socialaomgivningen och finansiella rådgivare kan påverka investeringsprocessen ienlighet med ESG.Den teoretiska referensramen består av legitimitetsteorin, the socialcomparison theory och befintlig forskning på ämnet. Studien utgår från endeduktiv ansats med induktiva inslag. En kvalitativ forskningsmetod haranvänts och datainsamling har skett via semistrukturerade intervjuer.Efter genomförda analyser av datainsamlingen framgår det att företagensattityd till ESG inte har särskilt stor inverkan på privata investerare vidinvesteringsbeslut. Förväntad avkastning är alltid högst upp påprioriteringslistan. ESG-faktorer ses framförallt som ett komplement vidinvesteringsbeslut. Av studien framgick det även att de sociala aspekterna (S)är den faktor av de tre som värderas högst. Miljöaspekter (E) värderas främstnär den potentiella investeringen ska ske i ett företag som har en starkkoppling till miljön. En bra bolagsstyrning (G) skapar en trygghet förinvesteraren men är väldigt sällan en avgörande faktor. Fortsättningsvispåvisar studien att den sociala omgivningen påverkar en privat investeraresbeslut. I den sociala omgivningen är det närstående personer som har störstinverkan. Finansiella rådgivares påverkan på investeringsprocessen är låg dåförtroende ofta saknas. / The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of ESG on individualinvestors investment decisions. The study also investigates how the socialenvironment and financial advisors can influence the investment process inline with ESG.The theoretical framework consists of legitimacy theory, the socialcomparison theory and existing research on the subject. The study adopts adeductive approach with elements of an inductive approach. A qualitativeresearch method was applied and data collection was conducted throughsemi-structured interviews.After analyzing the collected data, it appears that a company's attitudetowards ESG does not have a significant influence on individual investors'investment decisions. Expected returns always rank highest on individualinvestors' priority list. ESG-factors are primarily seen as a supplementaryconsideration in investment decisions. The study also reveals that the socialaspects (S) are the most valued among the three factors. Environmentalaspects (E) are particularly prioritized when investing in companies withstrong environmental ties. A well-managed governance (G) provides a senseof security for investors but is seldom a decisive factor. Furthermore, thestudy demonstrates that the social environment influences the investmentdecisions of individual investors, with close acquaintances having the mostsignificant impact. The influence of financial advisors on the investmentprocess is low, often due to a lack of trust.

It is generally acknowledged that the share price of listed companies is not usually a true reflection of the value imbedded in the said companies. The main purpose of this study is to explore the correlation between selected performance measurement tools, namely Return on Equity (ROE) and Economic Value Added (EVA®), and the share price of companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. The study is a quantitative one as it uses data extracted from McGregor BFA database to investigate the relationship between the variables studied. Correlation and linear regression analyses were used in determining such relationships. This study found that there is a synergy in using ROE and EVA® as performance measurement tools and that their interaction explains 8.06% of the movement in the share price of listed companies, all things being equal. Hence it is recommended to identify and study possible synergies between other performance measurement tools. / Management Accounting / M. Phil. (Accounting Sciences)

In South Africa, less than 10% of individuals are financially independent after retirement, with an increasing number becoming dependent on social grants from government – hence the importance of analysing the asset composition of high net worth individuals who have achieved financial independence. To achieve the aim of this study, it was first necessary to define net worth and to develop a theoretical framework of the assets and liabilities included in the measurement of an individual’s net worth and how these assets and liabilities should be valued. A definition of high net worth individuals was then formulated. Secondly, the factors influencing the asset composition of high net worth individuals, as well as selected demographic factors that influence net worth, were investigated. Finally, following a quantitative approach, data collected from the liquidation and distribution accounts of deceased individuals were analysed according to the developed framework. The results of this study suggest that are indeed differences in the contribution of the different asset types when measured using the mean, relative contribution and importance of the asset class in comparison with total assets. Further analysis revealed that the richest individuals included in the survey invested more in shares than the other groups for whom immovable property was the primary asset. Based on the analysis of selected demographic factors, the findings indicated that for many of the dependent variables, the asset used most by respondents in that group was not the same asset that made the highest contribution to the net worth of the individuals in the group. / Business Management / M. Com. (Accounting)

Sloan（1996）研究指出，投資人無法完全地分辨出應計項目與現金流量間盈餘持續性的差別，導致對應計項目資訊反應過度，而對現金流量資訊則反應不足，因此公司擁有相對較高（低）的應計項目使用金額，預期會有負（正）的未來股票異常報酬率，此種存在於應計項目與未來來股票異常報酬率間之負向關係，即本文所稱之「應計項目異常現象」。 投資人方面，本研究依資訊取得優勢，區分為內部關係人、機構投資人（外資、投信、自營商）與自然人；投資人持股行為則分別以持股比例與持股比例變動代表。此外，並將應計項目分別以總應計項目與總應計項目組成要素下之個別營運資金應計項目（應收帳款變動數、存貨變動數與應付帳款變動數）作衡量。首先測試應計項目異常現象是否存在於我國，再利用應計項目異常現象建構之套利投資組合，買進最低應計項目金額的投資組合而賣出最高應計項目金額的投資組合，探討應計項目異常現象與投資人持股行為之關聯性。 實證結果顯示，應計項目異常現象存在於我國，亦存在於個別營運資金應計項目。持股比例方面，外資與內部關係人似乎能利用應計項目異常現象形成之套利投資組合；當總應計項目的金額愈低，持股比例會愈高，但在不同應計項目的衡量方法下會有不同的結果。持股比例變動方面，除內部關係人與自然人稍佳之外，本研究設計之迴歸模型並無對應計項目與投資人持股比例變動間之關聯性有足夠的解釋能力。此外，第二年度的內部關係人持股比例變動雖與總應計項目、存貨變動數有負向的關聯性，惟統計結果並不顯著。 關鍵字：應計項目異常現象、投資人、持股行為、應計項目、機構投資人、內 部關係人、自然人、套利投資組合 / Sloan（1996）results indicate investors failing to distinguish fully between the different properties of the accrual and cash flow components of earnings. This leads to overreaction of the information contained in the accrual components of earnings and underreaction of the cash flow components of earnings.Consequently,firms with relatively high (low) levels of accruals experience negative (positive) future abnormal stock returns. The negative relationship between accounting accruals and subsequent stock returns calls the “Accruals anomaly” in this paper. With repect to the investors, I distinguish them from the advantage of obtaining the information into insiders, institution investors (QFII, mutual funds, security dealers), and individual investors; then use the percentage of the investors’ holding and the percentage of the investors’ holding change to represent the investors’ holding behavior. Besides, I use the total accruals and individual working capital accruals（change in accounts receive, change in inventory, and change in minus accounts payable）to measure accruals. Firstly, I test whether the accruals anomaly exists in our country or not, then exploit the hedge portfolio formed by accruals anomaly,by taking a long position in the stock of firms reporting relatively low levels of accruals and a short position in the stock of firms reporting relatively high levels of accruals generates positive abnormal stock returns to probe into the association between accruals anomaly and investors’ holding behavior. The results suggested that accruals anomaly indeed exists in our country and the individual working capital accruals. With regard to the percentage of the investors holding, QFII and insiders seems to capable of exploiting the hedge portfolio formed by accruals anomaly; when firms with relatively low levels of total accruals experience the percentage of the high investors holding,but there have different results of using dissimilar measurement of accruals. For the percentage of the investors holding change, this paper’s regression model doesn’t have enough capability of explaining the association between accruals and percentage of the investors holding change except insiders and individual investors. Furthermore, although the percentage of the insiders’ holding change in the second year is negatively correlated with total accruals and change in inventory, the empirical results are not significant. Key words: accrual anomaly, investors, holding behavior, accruals, institution investors, insiders, individual investors, hedge portfolio

It is generally acknowledged that the share price of listed companies is not usually a true reflection of the value imbedded in the said companies. The main purpose of this study is to explore the correlation between selected performance measurement tools, namely Return on Equity (ROE) and Economic Value Added (EVA®), and the share price of companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. The study is a quantitative one as it uses data extracted from McGregor BFA database to investigate the relationship between the variables studied. Correlation and linear regression analyses were used in determining such relationships. This study found that there is a synergy in using ROE and EVA® as performance measurement tools and that their interaction explains 8.06% of the movement in the share price of listed companies, all things being equal. Hence it is recommended to identify and study possible synergies between other performance measurement tools. / Management Accounting / M. Phil. (Accounting Sciences)

In South Africa, less than 10% of individuals are financially independent after retirement, with an increasing number becoming dependent on social grants from government – hence the importance of analysing the asset composition of high net worth individuals who have achieved financial independence. To achieve the aim of this study, it was first necessary to define net worth and to develop a theoretical framework of the assets and liabilities included in the measurement of an individual’s net worth and how these assets and liabilities should be valued. A definition of high net worth individuals was then formulated. Secondly, the factors influencing the asset composition of high net worth individuals, as well as selected demographic factors that influence net worth, were investigated. Finally, following a quantitative approach, data collected from the liquidation and distribution accounts of deceased individuals were analysed according to the developed framework. The results of this study suggest that are indeed differences in the contribution of the different asset types when measured using the mean, relative contribution and importance of the asset class in comparison with total assets. Further analysis revealed that the richest individuals included in the survey invested more in shares than the other groups for whom immovable property was the primary asset. Based on the analysis of selected demographic factors, the findings indicated that for many of the dependent variables, the asset used most by respondents in that group was not the same asset that made the highest contribution to the net worth of the individuals in the group. / Taxation / M. Com. (Accounting)

Die vorliegende kumulative Doktorarbeit umfasst drei Arbeiten aus dem Bereich der empirischen Rechnungslegungsforschung. Die erste Arbeit untersucht die Rolle persönlicher Eigenschaften von Rechnungslegungsstandardsetzern bei der Entwicklung der Internationalen Rechnungslegungsstandards IFRS. Sie dokumentiert, dass in den IFRS insgesamt ein Rückgang der Bedeutung von Prinzipien gegenüber Regeln sowie ein Anstieg der Bedeutung des beizulegenden Zeitwerts im Zeitablauf zu verzeichnen sind. Zwischen Änderungen von IFRS-Eigenschaften sowie beruflichen und kulturellen Eigenschaften von Mitgliedern des International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) wird ein Zusammenhang festgestellt. Die zweite Arbeit widmet sich Ursachen und Folgen fehlerhafter Finanzberichterstattung im Rahmen des deutschen Systems der Durchsetzung von Rechnungslegungsregeln. Sie findet systematische Unterschiede in der Unternehmensführung von Unternehmen, bei denen fehlerhafte Finanzberichte festgestellt werden, gegenüber einer Kontrollgruppe. Weitere Ergebnisse lassen die Vermutung zu, dass die Aufdeckung fehlerhafter Finanzberichte Verbesserungen in der unternehmensspezifischen Aufsicht über den Rechnungslegungsprozess auslösen könnte. Die dritte Arbeit nutzt umfangreiche Befragungsergebnisse deutscher Privatanleger zur Untersuchung der Ursachen ihres Unternehmensüberwachungsverhaltens. Demnach üben Anleger, die ein geringeres Vertrauen in andere Anspruchsgruppen eines Unternehmens haben, zugleich eine geringere Unternehmensüberwachung aus. Darüber hinaus dokumentiert die Arbeit, dass Vertrauen und Unternehmensüberwachung in einem Zusammenhang mit dem Ausmaß der Teilnahme am Aktienmarkt und dem Bildungshintergrund der Anleger stehen. / This cumulative doctoral thesis consists of three papers within the field of empirical financial accounting research. The first paper examines the role of personal characteristics of accounting standard setters in the development of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). It documents that the full set of IFRS exhibited a decrease in the importance of principles relative to rules and an increase in its fair value orientation over time. Changes in IFRS properties are found to be associated with the professional and cultural background of International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) members. The second paper investigates determinants and consequences of erroneous financial reporting under the German financial reporting enforcement regime. The corporate governance of firms detected with erroneous financial reporting is found to differ systematically from that of control firms. Further results suggest that error detection might trigger improvements in firm-level accounting oversight. The third paper uses large-scale survey evidence from German individual investors to explore the determinants of their monitoring behavior. Investors who are less trusting in their fellow stakeholders are found to engage in less monitoring. Furthermore, trust and monitoring are documented to be associated with the stock market exposure and the educational background of investors.