The issue of financial distress has received much attention of scholars because it harms firm financial and operational systems which could lead to insolvency. The objective of this study is to examine the determinants of financial distress in Ethiopian insurance companies. A panel dataset was obtained from 11 insurance companies which range from 2010 to 2021. The study used the “Altman’s Z”-score model as a measure for financial distress. The pooled OLS regression results revealed that profitability (ROA), liquidity levels, insurers’ size, earnings growth, diversification have negative and significant effect on financial distress. Moreover, inflation rate, claims ratio, leverage, and asset tangibility have positive significant impact on financial distress. The study will have implications for different stakeholders, such as managers, policy makers, shareholders, etc., in that firm-specific and macro-economic factors are essential for managing the status of financial distress.

Taxation serves as a crucial financial foundation for economic and social development, yet inefficient systems can impede compliance and efficiency. In Ethiopia, the introduction of an e-tax system marks a transformative effort to digitize tax administration, allowing taxpayers to electronically file forms and make payments. This study aims to explore the dynamics of the e-tax system by examining its practices, challenges, and opportunities through the experiences of Ethiopian taxpayers. Utilizing a descriptive research design, we employed random sampling techniques to select the respondents. The study sample consisted of 269 taxpayers who pay their taxes in Hawassa revenue office which provides a comprehensive snapshot of taxpayer perceptions and behaviors. The results indicate a significant uptake of the e-tax system since its implementation in 2021, with many taxpayers recognizing its benefits, including reduced paperwork, lower transportation costs, minimized calculation errors, and shorter wait times. However, a notable portion of the taxpayer population remains disengaged, highlighting persistent barriers to adoption. Key challenges identified include inadequate internet connectivity, frequent power outages, server congestion, and language discrepancies, which undermine the system’s effectiveness. The discussion emphasizes the need for strategic improvements, advocating for enhanced collaboration among stakeholders and targeted investments in digital infrastructure and taxpayer education. By addressing these issues, Ethiopia can optimize the e-tax system, fostering greater compliance and enhancing the efficiency of tax administration. This study not only sheds light on the current landscape of taxpayer experiences but also offers actionable recommendations for policymakers aimed at refining and expanding the e-tax framework. By analysing taxpayer feedback and identifying specific pain points within the system, the study provides insights that can inform strategic interventions. For instance, enhancing digital infrastructure and addressing connectivity issues will be crucial in facilitating seamless access to the e-tax platform.

Since the seminal work of MM irrelevance theory, there has been a long history of controversy among academicians both in developed and developing nations regarding the determinants of capital structure. To this end, the main aim of this study was to investigate firm-specific and country-level determinants of the capital structure of Ethiopian commercial banks. The study adopted an explanatory research design with a quantitative research approach. A panel dataset was obtained from 14 commercial banks, which range from 2010 to 2022. A random effect panel regression result revealed that tangibility, non-debt tax shields, growth, and interest rate had a positive and significant effect, while the gross domestic product had a negative and significant effect on leverage which is used as a measure of capital structure. Among the independent variables tested, ROA, liquidity, effective tax rate, risk, and inflation have an insignificant effect on the capital structure of the selected commercial banks. The study will have implications for managers of commercial banks, legislators, regulators, and other interested parties that can use the study's conclusions to help them make well-informed capital decisions and implement the necessary measures to enhance the financial performance of Ethiopian banks with an optimal ratio of debt to equity.

Bank profitability analysis seeks to identify macroeconomic, industry, and bank-specific factors, helping management understand and assess key determinants of profitability. To this end, the objective the current study is to analyze the effects of bank specific, industry-specific and macroeconomic factors on fourteen Ethiopian commercial bank profitability for the period of 2011–2023 using a random effect (RE), generalized methods of moments (GMM), fully modified ordinary least square (FMOLS). The findings reveal that income diversification negatively impacts return on assets (ROA), while gross domestic product (GDP) and government effectiveness have substantial positive effects on return on assets (ROA). Return on equity (ROE) is positively influenced by productivity, government effectiveness, and innovation indexes, but negatively affected by capital adequacy and income diversification. Lastly, profitability evaluated by net interest margin (NIM) is positively affected by productivity, COVID-19, and GDP, whereas bank stability and government effectiveness have negative impacts. This study is the first to explore the influences of the innovation index, government effectiveness, and COVID-19 on the performance of Ethiopian banks. By addressing this novel area, the current study offers valuable insights for policymakers, regulators, bank managers, analysts, and other stakeholders, providing a foundation for strategies to enhance the profitability and performance of banks in Ethiopia

Tax revenue stands as the lifeblood of any economy, necessary for financing government functions, public services, and developmental projects. To uncover the factors affecting tax revenue and develop strategies for improving or modifying it, conducting quantitative research on taxation is beneficial. Although this area has been extensively studied, existing research often focuses on developed countries and frequently overlooks the impact of variables such as corruption perception and shadow economy on a country’s tax revenue. To this end, the study empirically examines factors influencing tax revenue in Ethiopia, using data from 1992 to 2021. A variety of statistics such as unit root test, ARDL bound test, and ARDL-ECM were employed in the analysis. Post estimation analyses such as stability, normality and autocorrelation tests were also performed. The ARDL-ECM result shows trade openness (LNOPPS), inflation rate (LNFLN), share of manufacturing (LNMAF), corruption perception (LNCP) and (LNGDP) have positive and significant effect on tax revenue both in the long run and short run. The result also indicates a negative and significant relationship between foreign direct investment (LNFDI) and shadow economy (LNSE) with tax revenue. Furthermore, the past value of tax revenue negatively influences the current tax revenue. The findings suggest that to enhance tax revenue, the government should broaden the tax base, curtail overly generous tax holidays, bolster tax enforcement to curb evasion, and promote the development of industrial parks and special economic zones. The findings will have practical implications for policy makers, tax regulators and taxpayers in that it provides useful insight into the potential drivers to domestic revenue.

While there is a growing global interest in tax revenue research, there has been limited efforts to present a comprehensive overview of progress in this field. Therefore, the current study aims to evaluate the productivity and performance of published works related to tax revenue. The data for the study was sourced from Scopus, which is the largest and most widely recognized database. The publications spanned from 1972 to May 2025. We employed Biblioshiny and VOSviewer to analyze bibliometric content of a total of 1,379 documents. The findings revealed that tax revenue research has kept on rising in the selected years. The most notable sources identified as key journals for publishing foundational research on tax revenue include Public Finance Review, International Tax and Public Finance, Public Budgeting and Finance, and the Journal of Tax Reform. The findings from the co-occurrence analysis highlight six significant clusters that are crucial in shaping our understanding of the main issues within the field. Each cluster encompasses a set of interconnected themes or topics that provide insights into current trends and future directions of tax revenue research. The clusters identified included: taxation and economic development, taxation and sustainability, taxation and fiscal policy, taxation and health, tax administration and taxation and local government. The country collaboration network highlighted that there is limited connection among international researchers, with partnership restricted to some areas of the globe. Tax revenue and sustainability, along with health taxes and tax reform, are anticipated to be at the core of shaping the future trajectory of research in the area. This research is essential for guiding future studies, shaping tax policy decisions, and enhancing tax administration practices, which will ultimately result in more efficient and equitable tax systems.