<p>In April 2008 an official report, SOU (2008:32), was presented. In that report it was suggested</p><p>that the statutory audit for approximately 96 % of the Swedish companies was to be abolished.</p><p>The report suggests that the new regulations should apply to all limited companies that</p><p>are below two of three limits that have been suggested: a) a balance-sheet total of 41,5 million</p><p>SEK; b) a net turnover of 83 million SEK or; c) less than 50 employees. The regulations are</p><p>suggested to come into force July 1, 2010. According to the Swedish laws that regulate the</p><p>limited companies, Aktiebolagslagen 10:11, should all limited companies regardless of size</p><p>have an chartered accountant or otherwise approved. The purpose of the audit is to create a</p><p>trust towards the figures that the company shows and also to act as an assurance towards third</p><p>parties (Collis, 2003; Strenger et al, 2008). Commercial banks are one of the parties that use</p><p>the audited material in connection with granting of credits to small limited companies. The</p><p>aim of our study has been to describe and analyze the commercial bank's credit granting, and</p><p>to make a survey of what may happen with the process of credit granting and the credit</p><p>granting as such in case of an abolishment of the statutory audit. To do this we used a</p><p>qualitative research. We as researches have aimed to discuss the credit granting process and a</p><p>possible abolishment with the credit granters that are involved in the process. The study has</p><p>shown that commercial banks always use audited material in the credit granting process. The</p><p>commercial banks have a positive attitude towards the audited material and regard it as a</p><p>guarantee of quality. The study has shown that the commercial banks will not change how the</p><p>credit granting process is carried through in comparison of today. But the possibility of effects</p><p>upon credit prizing and upon choices of securities are not ruled out by the commercial banks.</p>

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet. Also issued online.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 73-75). Also available in electronic version.

This thesis is composed of three chapters. The first two chapters provides novel approaches for modeling and estimating the dependence structure for a large portfolio of assets using rating data. In both chapters a natural form of organizing a portfolio in terms of the levels of exposure to economic sectors and geographical regions, plays a key role in setting up the dependence structure. The last chapter investigates weather financial strategies that exploit sector or geographical heterogeneity in the asset space are relevant in terms of portfolio optimization. This is also done in a context of a large portfolio but with data on stock returns.

In the first part of the thesis I focus on credit markets in developing countries, and describe the competitive interaction between Microfinance Institutions (MFIs). Microfinance has recently attracted a lot of attention from investors, politicians, scholars and, most of all, people working on development. As a results, a huge number of MFIs are being created all over the world so that, as of today, practitioners reckon that about 100 millions of customers are being served. Remarkably, about 67% of them are women. The reason of this extraordinary effort is that Microfinance is considered the most promising development tool currently available. This belief is based on two important features of Microfinance: (i) It promises to be financially viable (and in some cases even profitable) since poor people have proven to be reliable clients. As a result, Microfinance is potentially a zero-cost development tool. (ii) It hinges on the entrepreneurial abilities of the poor. It is designed to help the poor to help themselves, in their own home countries, by allowing them to use their skills, ideas and potentials. This should progressively make developing countries independent of rich ones' help. The growth of Microfinance has been so fast that many issues and related research questions are still not answered. In my thesis I try to address one of them, that I believe particularly important: the increase of competition between MFIs. As economic theory predicts, competition can have dramatic consequences in terms of borrower welfare, profitability of the institutions and, therefore, on the attractiveness of the business for potential investors, donors and entrants. I use the tools of industrial organization and contract theory to understand these effects, measure them, and give some interesting policy advice. In the first paper, I analyze the effects of entry of a new MFI in a previously monopolistic microcredit market. In order to catch the salient features of financial markets in developing countries, I use a model of asymmetric information and assume that institutions can offer only one type of contract. I consider different behavioral assumptions for the MFIs and study their influence on equilibrium predictions. The model allows showing that competition can lead to equilibria in which MFIs differentiate their contracts in order to screen borrowers. This process can, unfortunately, make the poor borrowers worse off. Interestingly, the screening process we describe creates a previously unexplored source of credit rationing. I also prove that the presence in the market of an altruistic MFI, reduces rationing and, via this channel, affects positively the competitor's profit. In the second paper, I study the effects of competition in those markets in which, due to the absence of credit bureaus, small entrepreneurs can simultaneously borrow from more than one institution. As in the first paper, I analyze an oligopolistic microcredit market characterized by asymmetric information and institutions that can offer only one type of contract. The main contribution is to show that appropriate contract design can eliminate the ex-ante incentives for multiple borrowing. Moreover, when the market is still largely unserved and particularly risky, a screening strategy leading to con- tract differentiation and credit rationing is unambiguously the most effective to avoid multiple borrowing. The result of this paper can also be read as important robustness checks of the findings of my first paper. In the last part of the thesis, I depart from the analysis of developing countries to consider, more generally, the corporate governance of financial infrastructures. The efficient functioning of financial markets relies more and more on the presence of infrastructures providing services like clearing, settlement, messaging and many others. The last years have been characterized by interesting dynamics in the ownership regime of these service providers. Both mutualizations and de-mutualizations took place, together with entry and exit of different players. Starting from this observation, in the last paper (with Joachim Keller), we analyze the effects of competitive interaction between differently owned financial providers. We mainly focus on the incentives to invest in safety enhancing measures and we describe the different equilibrium market configurations. We use a model in which agents need an input service for the financial market they operate in. They can decide whether to provide it them selves by forming a Cooperative or outsource it from a Third Party Provider. We prove that the co-existence of differently governed infrastructures leads to a significant reduction in the investment in safety. In most cases, monopolistic provision is preferable to competition. Moreover, the decision rule used within the Cooperative plays a central role in determining the optimal market configuration. All in all, throughout my thesis, I use the tools of industrial organization and contract theory to model the competitive interaction of the different actors operating in financial markets. Understanding the dynamics typical of developing countries can help in gaining a deeper comprehension of the markets in richer countries, and vice-versa. I am convinced that analyzing the differences and the similarities of financial markets in different regions of the world can be of great importance for economic theorists, in that it provides a counterfactual for the assumptions and the results on which our predictions and policy advices are based.

This thesis deals with export payment. Different payment methods that can be used in order to receive and secure payment when conducting international trade are analysed, and relevant risks and problems are examined. Particular focus is given to export trade with China. International trade offers great possibilities for companies, but also risks. There are several risks that should be taken into consideration, for instance the political risk, the exchange risk and the commercial risk. The commercial risk is the seller’s risk of non-payment or late payment and the buyer’s risk of non-delivery or faulty delivery Over the last decades the Chinese market has gone through considerable changes and today it is one of the world’s most important markets. The commercial risk is sometimes feared when doing business in China. This is because statements have been made claiming that Chinese buyers are somewhat untrustworthy payers. Payment is an essential part of all trade transactions. There are a number of payment methods that can be used in order to receive and secure international payment. Which payment method that should be used depends on the circumstances of the transaction. The documentary credit is a frequently used payment method in interna-tional trade. It offers the exporter security of payment because at least one bank adds its promises to pay. / Denna uppsats behandlar betalning vid export. Olika betalningsmetoder som kan användas för att erhålla och säkerställa betalning analyseras, och relevanta risker och problem studeras. Uppsatsen är särskilt inriktad på Kina. Internationell handel medför många möjligheter för företag, men också en ökad risk. Hänsyn måste tas till bland annat den politiska risken, valutarisken och den kommersiella risken. Den kommersiella risken är risken att betalning eller leverans inte sker i enlighet med vad som har avtalats. Den kinesiska marknaden har under de senaste årtiondena genomgått en omfattande förändring, och idag är den en av världens viktigaste marknader. Den kommersiella risken är ibland befarad vid kinesisk handel. Detta beror på att det finns en uppfattning att kinesiska köpare ibland kan vara osäkra betalare. Betalning är en viktig del av alla handelstransaktioner. Det finns ett antal betalningsmetoder som kan användas för att erhålla och säkerställa internationell betalning. Vilken metod som bör användas beror på omständigheterna vid handelstransaktionen. Remburs är en betalningsmetod som är vanligt förekommande vid internationell handel. Metoden ger exportören betalningssäkerhet eftersom minst en bank garanterar betalningen.

This study examines the different characteristics of adopting private debt, corporate bonds, and bank debt in the Taiwanese listed companies that obtained new debt financing from 2002 to 2004. The Logistic Regression Model is performed to find out the main determinants to affect the choice of debt instruments, and Two-Stage Least Squares is used to examine the effects of different debt instrument on equity risk. The results are as followed: 1. The higher the flotation cost the higher the possibility of the firm to choose issuing public bonds. On the other hand, the lower the flotation cost the higher the possibility of the firm to choose issuing private debt. 2. Firms with the highest information asymmetry tend to borrow from banks, and those with the lowest information asymmetry are likely to issue public bonds. 3. Firms with the highest credit quality exhibit a strong preference for public bonds, firms with middle credit quality prefer to borrow from banks, and the lowest credit quality prefer to borrow from private debt sources. 4. Firms with the lowest managerial ownership tend to borrow from private debt. 5. As to the equity risk from the debt sources, it increases with the size of the corporate bonds or private debt, and decreases with the size of the bank debt.

In April 2008 an official report, SOU (2008:32), was presented. In that report it was suggested that the statutory audit for approximately 96 % of the Swedish companies was to be abolished. The report suggests that the new regulations should apply to all limited companies that are below two of three limits that have been suggested: a) a balance-sheet total of 41,5 million SEK; b) a net turnover of 83 million SEK or; c) less than 50 employees. The regulations are suggested to come into force July 1, 2010. According to the Swedish laws that regulate the limited companies, Aktiebolagslagen 10:11, should all limited companies regardless of size have an chartered accountant or otherwise approved. The purpose of the audit is to create a trust towards the figures that the company shows and also to act as an assurance towards third parties (Collis, 2003; Strenger et al, 2008). Commercial banks are one of the parties that use the audited material in connection with granting of credits to small limited companies. The aim of our study has been to describe and analyze the commercial bank's credit granting, and to make a survey of what may happen with the process of credit granting and the credit granting as such in case of an abolishment of the statutory audit. To do this we used a qualitative research. We as researches have aimed to discuss the credit granting process and a possible abolishment with the credit granters that are involved in the process. The study has shown that commercial banks always use audited material in the credit granting process. The commercial banks have a positive attitude towards the audited material and regard it as a guarantee of quality. The study has shown that the commercial banks will not change how the credit granting process is carried through in comparison of today. But the possibility of effects upon credit prizing and upon choices of securities are not ruled out by the commercial banks.

Microfinance and micro credits are concepts that are used frequently when talking about poverty reducing actions. This paper is a case study of the poverty alleviation impacts of microfinance institutions and it contrasts the effects of Grameen Bank and Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) operating in Bangladesh. The case study examines the organisations effects in the 21st century since most of the reports have compared the effects in the past not reflecting on future conditions. The questions at issue are if Grameen Bank and BRAC can affect the poverty status of its members in a positive way and if there is a positive effect, which of the approaches are the best to use? To analyse the non monetary dimension, concepts such as health and education has been used as indicators for poverty reduction and the monetary indicator used is income through employment. Simultaneously economic models and concepts have been considered throughout the paper. The findings of this case study implied that both organisations have positive effects on reducing poverty among its members, but BRAC has the broadest view seeing to all factors investigated and therefore its approach is the best to use. Nevertheless, as previous studies have implied sustainability and cost-effectiveness within the microfinance programme is important for the long-run poverty reduction. Evaluating the economic performance of the two organisations Grameen Bank is more efficient in using its resources than BRAC, but Grameen Bank show a decreasing rate of efficiency while BRAC is improving significantly. With this in consideration BRAC is still showing the best poverty reducing result for its members today, but if the organisation does not find a way to improve its economical performance its actions will not be sustainable in the long run.

Abstract Problem In Sweden, there is currently a debate concerning statutory audit. Different stakeholders debate whether the government should change the legis-lation concerning statutory audit for limited companies below a certain size. A study made by Thorell &amp; Norberg (2005) and other researchers are of the opinion that banks are positive toward statutory audit. We find it very reasonable for banks to have this positive opinion, but we ask ourselves if the importance of the statutory audit is so great that it is reason enough for the banks to be an influential part in the ongoing debate. Purpose The purpose of the thesis is to contribute to the debate regarding statutory audit for small limited companies by studying the argument that banks and credit processes benefit from statutory audit. Method This study was conducted through a qualitative method. The data was collected by interviewing representatives from three banks. We investigated and compared the process of granting credits for unregistered firms, partnerships and small limited companies. This means that we compared credit processes for companies that are under the regulation of statutory audit and companies that are not. Conclusions Based on this study, we agree with Thorell &amp; Norberg (2005), that banks positive attitudes towards statutory audit is based on convenience rather than real benefits. Banks can conduct the same research for small limited companies, as for unregistered firms and partnerships. The personal responsibility for unregistered firms and partnerships is no defence in keeping the statutory audit, because it is of minor importance. As the bank representatives in this study do not know what an audit consist of, we can see no reason for them to say that the statutory audit should be kept. An auditor’s advice can create benefits for the company that is greater than the cost of the audit, but we can not see why the statutory audit should be kept because of this. Company representatives can hire an auditor or an-other advisor whenever he/she wants. Based on the results from this study, we can see no reason to keep the statutory audit for small limited companies, from a bank perspective. / Sammanfattning Problem I Sverige pågår en debatt om revisionsplikten. Olika intressenter debatte-rar om regeringen ska ändra lagstiftningen om revisionsplikt för aktiebo-lag under en viss storlek. En studie av Thorell &amp; Norberg (2005) och andra studier visar att banker är positivt inställd till revisionsplikten. Vi anser det vara rimligt att bankerna har denna positiva inställning, men vi ifrågasätter om revisionsplikten är så viktig för bankerna så att de kan vara en inflytelserik aktör i debatten. Syfte Syftet med denna uppsats är att bidra till debatten angående revisionsplikten för små aktiebolag genom att undersöka argumentet att banker och kreditgivningsprocesser gynnas av revisionsplikt. Metod Studien genomfördes genom en kvalitativ metod. Data insamlades genom intervjuer med tre banker. Vi undersökte och jämförde kreditgivningsprocessen för enskilda firmor, handelsbolag och små aktiebolag. Det innebär att vi jämförde kreditprocessen för både företag som har revisionsplikt på sig och de som inte har det. Slutsats Baserat på denna studie, så håller vi med Thorell &amp; Norberg (2005), att bankernas positive inställning till revisionsplikten är baserad på bekvämlighet istället för riktig nytta. Banker kan genomföra samma undersökningar på små aktiebolag som på enskilda firmor och handelsbolag. Bristen på personaligt betalningsansvar i aktiebolag ingen ursäkt för att behålla revisionsplikten, då den enligt bankerna är av mindre betydelse. Eftersom representanterna för bankerna i denna studie inte vet vad som innefattas i en revision, så kan vi inte se att de har någon grund att påstå att revisionsplikten ska vara obligatorisk. Råden från en revisor kan skapa större fördelar än vad kostnaden för revisionen är, men vi kan inte förstå varför man ska behålla revisionsplikten på grund av detta. Företagens representanter kan anlita revisorer eller andra rådgivare ändå. Baserat på resultaten från denna studie så kan vi inte någon anledning till att behålla revisionsplikten för små aktiebolag, ur ett bankperspektiv.