This investigation explores the transformative effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the risk assessment processes employed by auditors. The primary focus is on how the pandemic has reshaped the identification and evaluation of risks, necessitating alterations in the timing, nature, and extent of risk assessment procedures (RAPs) in the audit risk assessment context. This study, through semi-structured interviews with audit partners and senior managers from Big Four and mid-tier firms in Malta, comprising a total of 15 interviews, delves into the evolving landscape of risk assessment. It has been observed that the pandemic demanded increased vigilance and effort from auditors in understanding clients' businesses and their operational environments. This heightened attention was crucial to identify emerging risks aptly. A shift in the RAPs was discerned, favoring inquiries and analytical procedures (APs) over traditional methods like observation and inspection. The incorporation of Information Technology (IT) tools has markedly transformed the approach to gathering sufficient and appropriate audit evidence, particularly in verifying inventories and property, plant, and equipment (PPE), along with third-party confirmations. Furthermore, the study identifies material risks such as going concern (GC), asset impairment (including plant, equipment, inventory, and receivables), and the impact of external events on companies. An important outcome of this shift is the increased reliance on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and blockchain-based applications, heralding a more efficient and effective risk assessment process. This evolution not only enhances audit quality but also serves the public interest more robustly. The findings imply a long-term impact on audit risk assessment, projecting a continued evolution in the post-COVID era. These insights contribute significantly to the discourse on audit practices in times of crisis, underscoring the need for adaptive methodologies and the integration of advanced technologies in audit procedures.

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of accounting information systems (AIS), employee intrinsic motivation, and internal controls on the productivity of employees at PT. Bank Danamon's Ambon Branch. Primary data collection was conducted through meticulously designed questionnaires, ensuring validity and reliability. Respondents were carefully selected to align with specific criteria pertinent to the research objectives. Complementing the primary data, an extensive literature review was conducted to gather secondary data. Additionally, structured interviews were employed to acquire in-depth insights into the examined factors, bolstering the data's integrity and the study's overall validity. The analytical approach adopted was multiple regression analysis. The findings revealed that each variable—AIS, work motivation, and internal controls—individually exerted a significant influence on employee performance. The variable of AIS, as determined through partial testing, demonstrated a notable impact on performance metrics. Concurrently, the motivation variable, also assessed through partial testing, was found to significantly shape employee performance. Moreover, the study highlighted the pivotal role of internal controls in influencing performance outcomes. A simultaneous assessment of these variables revealed a profound collective impact on employee performance, with a statistical significance level notably low (p < 0.05). The coefficient of determination (R²) was found to be 0.965, elucidating the substantial combined effect of the AIS, motivation, and internal control on employee performance. These insights contribute valuable knowledge to the banking industry, specifically in the realms of financial performance and organizational efficiency.

The burgeoning international concern over environmental sustainability has brought to the forefront the unique challenges climate change poses to global economies and financial markets. In the light of this, the role of International Financial Institutions like the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in transitioning towards a green economy is increasingly critical. This study aims to elucidate the influence of climate risk on financial access and stability within G20 countries, spanning from 2006 to 2017. Employing a comprehensive panel data analysis, which accounts for cross-sectional dependence and slope heterogeneity, a fixed effects model is utilized. The Global Climate Risk Index (CRI) scores, provided by Germanwatch, serve as the primary measure of climate risk, with lower scores indicating heightened risk. The investigation reveals a non-linear relationship, where enhanced financial access correlates with diminishing climate risk, underscoring the positive impact of climate change policies on financial system efficiency. However, no significant connection is found between climate risk and financial fragility, a phenomenon potentially attributed to the resilience of countries with advanced credit markets and preemptive risk insurance measures by households. These findings imply that while climate change significantly influences financial access in G20 countries, its effect on financial fragility within the studied period is negligible. The study underscores the potential for policy interventions in climate change mitigation to augment financial system efficiency. Ensuring the consistency of professional terminology, the analysis provides insights into the nuanced relationship between climate risk and financial dynamics in major economies.

Currently, the primary focus of the poverty discourse is around the concept of "the feminization of poverty". Similar to other countries, a significant factor contributing to women's poverty in Turkey is the limited availability of employment alternatives that enable women to generate income. Given the escalating prevalence of women's impoverishment, it is evident that the anti-poverty measures implemented by governments often fall short of being enough. Various institutions and groups are introducing alternative financial services in this particular setting. An effective approach to address women's poverty in Turkey is the implementation of the "micro credit" program. Microcredit offers modest financial resources that enable economically disadvantaged women to independently participate in income-generating endeavors. The concept of "microfinance" is crucial in recognizing the significance of capital in combating poverty. Hence, the United Nations designated 2005 as the year of "Microcredit." Microfinance is regarded as a crucial instrument in attaining the Millennium Development Goals of alleviating poverty worldwide by 2015. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of Microcredit provided by the Turkish Grameen Microfinance Program (TGMP) on the empowerment of women in their efforts to combat poverty, specifically in relation to women's entrepreneurship and their socio-economic well-being. The study was done using surveys administered to a sample of 250 women who utilized microcredit in the Eskişehir province as part of the TGMP program. The data collected were subjected to analysis using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and the one-way ANOVA approach, which is a parametric testing procedure. The second phase of the analysis involved the utilization of the semi-structured survey methodology, which is a qualitative research method. This approach was administered to a sample of 50 women participating in the study. During the interview, the questions from the initial survey were discussed and further explored, along with the underlying reasoning behind them. The findings indicate that the effects of microcredit on women's entrepreneurship and socio-economic status following microcredit utilization differ based on factors such as women's educational attainment, the nature of the business founded, the extent of income growth, the loan amount, and the number of times the loan is utilized. Conversely, every participant expresses support for microcredit; the majority perceive them as beneficial and motivating. The prevailing opinion among them is that universal benefits should be extended to all individuals. According to their statement, the rise in income resulting from the enterprises they created and expanded using microcredit had a significant role in their family's finances (80%), enabling them to spend more comfortably (20%). Most of them stated that they possess a budget that prioritizes both savings and revenue growth.

Energy resources constitute a fundamental necessity for the sustenance of nations, with their security being a critical facet of both national and economic stability. The Eastern Mediterranean, a pivotal route for the global transportation of energy resources, notably oil and natural gas, plays a significant role in this context. It is established that over half of the world's petroleum products are transported via maritime routes, underscoring the strategic importance of this region. The presence of contested zones involving the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), Turkey, the Greek Administration of Southern Cyprus (GASC), and Greece, however, raises concerns regarding the security of these maritime corridors. This study commences with an exposition of the concepts of energy and its associated security, followed by an analysis of the Eastern Mediterranean's strategic relevance and the role of the TRNC. Central to this discussion is the Blue Homeland doctrine, a foreign policy approach that prioritizes maritime security interests of the state. The doctrine is dissected to elucidate its implications for regional maritime dynamics. Data pertaining to cargo transportation within the Eastern Mediterranean is presented, highlighting the region's significance in terms of security. The study then pivots to an exploration of the Blue Homeland doctrine, examining its application and impact on the region. Notably, the study avoids first-person perspectives, adhering to a passive voice to maintain academic rigor.

This study examines the interrelation between foreign equity investments (FEIs) and the BIST 100 index, a pivotal indicator of the Turkish economy's overall performance. Given Turkey's emergence as a market with considerable potential returns, this analysis is particularly pertinent. The focus is on the volume of shares held by international investors in Borsa Istanbul and its impact on the BIST 100 index. Data spanning 924 weeks, from 2006 to 2023, form the empirical basis of this investigation. Stationarity of variables was assessed using the Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) and Phillips-Peron (PP) unit root tests. The direction of causality between the studied variables was determined via a Granger causality test, employing a Vector Autoregressive (VAR) model. Findings reveal a bidirectional causality between the returns of the BIST 100 index and FEIs, aligning with prevailing hypotheses that posit a connection between foreign equity flows and stock market indices. This relationship underscores the integral role of international investments in shaping market dynamics within emerging economies. The study contributes to the understanding of financial market interdependencies, highlighting the significance of foreign investments in the context of a developing economy's stock market.

This investigation delves into the dynamics of Turkey’s high-technology investments and their influence on export expansion. In an evolving global economy, the pivotal role of high technology industries for sustained economic success is increasingly acknowledged. This research explores Turkey’s strategic endeavors and investments in high-tech sectors, highlighting their impact on export-driven economic development. Through a multidisciplinary lens, encompassing economic, technological, and policy perspectives, the dynamics of Turkey’s foray into high technology are scrutinized. A fusion of quantitative and qualitative methodologies aids in dissecting the trends, challenges, and prospects associated with the high-technology sector in Turkey. Findings indicate a marked escalation in high-tech investments over the past decade, driven by targeted policy frameworks and synergies among government, industry, and academia. These investments have catalyzed advancements in key sectors, including information technology, aerospace, biotechnology, and renewable energy. A discernible positive correlation between high-tech investments and the augmentation of Turkey’s export market is observed, underscoring the criticality of innovation in enhancing global competitiveness. Nonetheless, challenges such as the necessity for robust regulatory frameworks, talent cultivation, and infrastructure enhancement persist, crucial for the sustained growth of high-tech exports. The study proffers an analysis of these challenges, along with actionable recommendations for policymakers, industry leaders, and scholars to effectively address them.

Recent emphasis on environmental stewardship by stakeholders has escalated demands for disclosures on social and environmental impacts from environmentally detrimental companies, underscoring the significance of sustainable reporting. This trend has catalyzed the emergence of sustainability indices in financial markets, highlighting corporate commitment to sustainable practices. The inclusion of firms in these indices is often perceived positively by investors, potentially influencing expectations of stock price surges. Hence, the examination of whether this inclusion prompts investor overreaction becomes pertinent. This study aims to ascertain the existence of investor overreaction to companies listed in the BIST Sustainability Index. The research encompasses companies incorporated into the Borsa Istanbul sustainability index from 2014 to 2022. Adopting the methodology of De Bondt & Thaler (1985), this analysis investigates the prevalence of overreaction. The findings reveal that the overreaction hypothesis holds true for a one-year duration post-inclusion in the index. This indicates that investors exhibit overreaction by purchasing stocks during the initial year of a company's inclusion, yielding returns surpassing market averages. Conversely, holding these stocks for three and five years results in inadequate investor reactions and fails to secure above-market returns. This suggests that the impact of index inclusion on investor behavior is transient, diminishing in the third and fifth years. The study contributes to the discourse on behavioral finance by elucidating the nuanced effects of sustainability indices on financial market dynamics and investor behavior.

Through a mixed-methods research approach, this study investigates the factors influencing the ethical conduct of Internal Auditors (IAors) in Malta, assesses their awareness of ethical dilemmas and threats alongside their obligations under the Institute of Internal Auditors' Code of Ethics (the Code), and evaluates how frequently and under what circumstances IAors refer to the Code. Interviews were conducted with twenty-two participants, including nine internal auditors from Maltese listed organizations (MLEreps), five from government entities (Govtreps), and eight outsourced auditors (Outreps). The analysis reveals that IAors' commitment to ethical principles is primarily driven by personal integrity rather than mere obligation to the Code, with personality and character standing out as the foremost predictors of ethical behavior. Nonetheless, the significance of a well-articulated Code of Ethics, organizational culture, the efficacy of the audit committee, and auditors' experience in shaping ethical conduct was also noted. It was found that internal auditors, especially those within government organizations, are more frequently confronted with ethical dilemmas than their external counterparts due to the nature of their work involving scrutiny of colleagues' actions. Outsourced auditors (Outreps) face distinct challenges in maintaining confidentiality. Across all groups, the threat of over-familiarity was identified as a substantial risk to ethical integrity, with government auditors (Govtreps) additionally perceiving intimidation as a significant concern. Despite these challenges, the Code was viewed by many, particularly MLEreps, as insufficient in addressing the ethical issues and risks encountered. Although a majority of IAors exhibit a willingness to comply with the Code, only a small fraction actively consults and reference it in their reports. This has led to calls among Maltese IAors for an enhanced Code and clearer guidelines, highlighting a reliance on the Code of Ethics for Warrant Holders for further direction due to the lack of practical examples in the current framework.