Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the financial aspects of high vs low-ranked firms in the Corporate Responsibility Index in Egypt, and to construct a Z-score model to discriminate between high- and low-ranked firms in the Corporate Responsibility Index. Design/methodology/approach – This study empirically examines a comprehensive list of financial ratios for 24 firms listed in EGX30 for four fiscal years, 2007-2010. The authors calculate 90 financial ratios to provide better insights and evaluation of the firms’ financial performance. The ordinary least square regression method and discriminant analysis are utilized to explain differences between the low- and high-ranked firms regarding their corporate social governance index. Findings – The results show that corporate governance and corporate social responsibility (CSR) are positively related to the firms’ financial performance in terms of sales turnover and customer loyalty. This suggests that in the long run, the market mechanism should be able to provide additional resources to those companies that are better at maximizing a widely defined bottom line of their social governance. The results also show that highly ranked firms are characterized financially by: strong bargaining power with suppliers; financing growth in fixed assets using debt mainly. Originality/value – The study contributes to the literature in terms of providing practical insights on the financial strategies that help support effective CG and CSR in Egypt. In addition, this study offers a unique quantitative attempt to measure and examine the benefits of incorporation of socioeconomics into business practices.

This study examines the contribution of Egyptian banks' financial aspects to their operating efficiency. The study introduces a link between banks' relative competitive positions and operating efficiency by examining the financial profile of high versus low competitive banks. Design/methodology/approach: The statistical method utilizes the benefits of the Partial Adjustment Model, which measures the extent to which bank financial performance affects its operating efficiency. The sample includes 24 commercial banks covering the period 2001-2008. Findings: The results show that: (a) in the high competitive banks, operating efficiency is positively and significantly affected by banks' asset quality, capital adequacy, credit risk, and liquidity. These results offer clear evidence that high competitive banks in Egypt are distinguished from low competitive banks by carefully designed financial policies. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study contributes to the relevant literature in that it examines a practical relationship between banks' competitiveness and operating efficiency.

The vulnerability map is a fondamental document for the development of territory. It basically allows you to guide the siting of development projects that may have a negative impact on the quality of groundwater resources. The Geographic Information Systems are powerful tools of choice for the development of vulnerability maps of aquifers, they facilitate multicriteria analysis and updated models developed. Given the strategic role of the underground water Berrechid in the economic and social development of the region of Bouregreg-chaouia, development, we proceeded to develop the vulnerability map of this area by exploiting the features offered by the GIS Arc GIS 9.3 extensions Spatial Analysis Tools and Geostatistical Analyst allowed us to calculate the indices of seven parameters of the DRASTIC method, these indices were classified into five categories: Extreme, High, Medium, Low, Very Low. Developed the card can be used as a tool for decision support in planning and helps to preserve the groundwater in the area Berrechid and surrounding areas.

No abstract