The upper echelons theory suggests that directors’ characteristics, values, and professional experience have an impact on their perceptions, and thus their own decisions. Building on this theory, this study aims to examine the impact of CEOs’ demographic characteristics on firms’ risk-taking. The analysis is based on a sample of 82 manufacturing and service companies listed on the Amman Stock Exchange for the period 2015–2019. The CEO characteristics examined include gender, age, qualification, experience, ownership, duality, and tenure. Though, we use the standard deviation of the firm’s return on assets ratio as a measure for risk-taking. The results indicate that there is a significant negative relationship between CEO qualification, experience, ownership, and Jordanian firms’ risk-taking. While there is a significant positive relationship between CEO tenure and Jordanian firms’ risk-taking. Importantly, CEO gender, age, and duality are unrelated to firms’ risk-taking in Jordan. This study contributes significantly to the existing, but limited, literature that examines the relationship between the CEOs’ demographic characteristics and firms’ risk-taking. It is worth noting that, this The study is the first in Jordan to investigate the impact of the CEOs’ demographic characteristics on firms’ risk-taking and document the above-mentioned relationships. The findings of the study could bring the attention of the standard setters and regulators to the importance of CEOs’ attributes on controlling the mechanisms of the firms’ risk-taking, and thus enable Jordanian companies to take the right decisions in relation to CEO appointments, as such decisions would certainly affect the company’s performance and sustainability in the long-run.

Purpose: This paper aims to examine the extent to which real earnings management (REM) is used in Jordan to meet zero or previous year's earnings, and how this impacts the subsequent operating performance of Jordanian firms.Design/methodology/approach: The study used a sample of 98 Jordanian listed firms over the 2010–2018 period. To test the research hypotheses, which are formulated in accordance with both, agency theory and signalling theory, multivariate regression is performed using a pooled OLS estimation. Additionally, a two-step dynamic generalised method of moment (GMM) model has been estimated to address any concerns regarding the potential occurrence of endogeneity issues.Findings: The results show that Jordanian firms that meet zero or last year's earnings tend to exhibit evidence of real activities manipulations. More specifically, suspect firms show unusually low abnormal discretionary expenses and unusually high abnormal production costs. Further, consistent with the signalling earnings management argument, the authors find that abnormal real-based activities intended to meet zero earnings or previous year's earnings potentially improve the subsequent operating performance of Jordanian firms. This implies that REM is not totally opportunistic, but it can be used to enhance the subsequent operating performance of Jordanian firms. Our findings are robust to alternative proxies and endogeneity concerns.Practical implications: The findings have several implications for policymakers, regulators, audit professionals and investors in their attempts to constrain REM practices to enhance financial reporting quality in Jordan. Managing earnings by reducing discretionary expenses appeared to be the most convenient way to manipulate earnings in Jordan. It provides flexibility in terms of time and the amount of spending. The empirical evidence, therefore, reiterates the crucial necessity to refocus the efforts of internal and external auditors on limiting this type of manipulation to reduce the occurrence of REM activities and enhance the subsequent operating performance of listed firms in Jordan. Drawing on Al-Haddad and Whittington (2019), the evidence also urges regulators and standards setters to develop a more effective enforcement mechanism for corporate governance provisions in Jordan to minimise the likelihood of REM incidence.Originality/value: This study contributes to the body of the accounting literature by providing the first empirical evidence in the Middle East region overall on the use of REM to meet zero or previous year earnings by Jordanian firms. Moreover, the study is the first to empirically examine the relationship between REM and Jordanian firms' future operating performance.

Medical corruption poses a widespread and growing threat to healthcare systems globally, with the World Health Organization estimating that 10-25% of global healthcare spending is lost annually to corrupt practices. This systematic review synthesizes existing evidence on the causes, socioeconomic and clinical impacts, and effectiveness of anti-corruption interventions. We critically examine manifestations of corruption, such as bribery, fraudulent billing, kickbacks from pharmaceutical companies, and systemic inequities driven by unethical practices, including informal payments for care. A literature review was conducted across the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases (2013–2024), screening 1,250 peer-reviewed articles and case studies, with 89 selected. These findings indicate that corruption disproportionately impacts vulnerable groups, leading to medication shortages, unequal access to care, and preventable deaths. Low- and middle-income countries lose 30% of their healthcare funds to corruption, compared to 5-10% in high-income nations. Ongoing barriers to reform include regulatory capture, cultural normalization of bribery, and the lack of whistleblower protections. Emerging technological solutions, such as blockchain for supply chain transparency, AI-driven fraud detection, and crowdsourced corruption-reporting platforms, promise to combat illegal activities. However, anti-corruption interventions must be context-specific, incorporating robust legal frameworks, culturally sensitive ethics training, and international cooperation to address cross-border pharmaceutical fraud. This review uniquely advocates for institutional accountability metrics and the integration of anti-corruption goals into universal health coverage agendas. Policy implications underscore the necessity of political will to dismantle entrenched networks and public-private partnerships to ensure equitable care. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies to assess intervention effectiveness and explore the role of social determinants in exacerbating corruption.

Purpose: This research examines how corporate social responsibility (CSR) affects cash holding strategies of enterprises. Design/methodology/approach: By sampling the Chinese A-Share listed firms from 2010 to 2022, we utilize fixed effects, panel EGLS and system GMM models for regression analysis. Findings: The study finds that firms with higher CSR engagement tend to hold less cash, likely due to improved access to external financing and stronger stakeholder relationships, which encourage reinvestment in sustainable initiatives. The results reveal that debt financing, firm size, asset tangibility and firm efficiency influence cash reserves. Practical implications: The study offers practical significance by demonstrating how socially responsible practices can enhance financial management and stability in an emerging market context. Originality/value: This research provides novel insights into the intersection of CSR and corporate finance, highlighting the strategic importance of integrating social responsibility into financial decision-making.