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In spite of the reforms undertook during the 1980s and 1990s in favour of financial deepening, the spread between the lending rate and the deposit rate is still high in the member countries of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CAEMC). Thus, the aim of this study is to investigate the determinants of banking spread in those countries. In that vein, the study employs two-step regression proposed by Ho and Saunders using country-level data from 2000 to 2010. On one hand, the study controlled for capital inflows and natural resources endowment. On the other hand, the study took into consideration the legal and institutional framework of the sample countries and the excess liquidity prevailing their banking systems. The results revealed that among bank-specific characteristics, bank asset, doubtful loan, and the volume of credit significantly determine the observed spread. As for macroeconomic characteristics, oil rents, foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows, and real gross domestic product (GDP) growth significantly affect banking spread. Meanwhile, political stability, corruption, government effectiveness, regulatory quality, and bank concentration in the deposit market are the significant institutional determinants of the interest rate spread in CAEMC countries.

The aim of this paper is to assess the surge in financial flows to developing and emerging market economies induced by the Federal Reserve's experience of quantitative easing. Using both panel causality tests and dynamic panel regression models on a data set covering as much as 78 developing and EMEs between 2007Q1 and 2014Q4, it is found on the one hand that QE caused cross-border capital flows in the form of foreign direct investment, an equity portfolios, and bank loans. On the other hand, the study reveals that QE significantly fueled financial flows to developing and EMEs through the portfolio rebalancing, liquidity and confidence channels. In addition, the paper highlights the significant contribution of the fiscal channel and shows that when it comes to post-QE cross-border financial flows, the BRICS exhibit a pattern similar to that of other developing and EMEs.

PurposeThis study examines the efficacy of public sector audits in providing quality healthcare in Ghana. Specifically, to ensure whether there are proper and adequate controls in place to enable providers to offer necessary health services efficiently, effectively and equitably.Design/methodology/approachA structural equation modeling (SEM) is adopted to analyze the link between public sector audit and healthcare delivery through a survey of directors, accountants, auditors and managers in selected public healthcare institutions for a calculated sample size of 123 respondents.FindingsThe study reveals that internal audit, external audit and audit committee have a positive and significant effect on the effectiveness of public sector audits. In turn, the effectiveness of public sector audit has a positive and significant effect on the quality health services. Audit committee is found to have the largest effect on the effectiveness of public sector audits.Originality/valueThis paper extends the literature on the value of public sector audit by providing empirical evidence from a specific context: the public health sector of a developing country in democratic transition with a common law institutional framework. It also provides insights into the financial management of public health systems in developing countries during the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

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