This study explores the intellectual capital performances of commercial banks in eight Asian economies by applying Pulic's value-added intellectual coefficient method (VAIC). The results show that after controlling for the influence of loan quality (LQ), fund utilisation (FU), and Asian financial crisis, both physical and human capitals (HCs) are the main factors creating value for banks. From 1996 to 2001, banks in Hong Kong on average had the best intellectual capital performance while those in Thailand improved the most. Further analysis shows that the value-creating efficiency of HC is the major driving force of performance

This study examines the association between the selection of an industry-specialist auditor and corporate social responsibility (CSR).We find that firms with higher CSR ratings are more likely to hire industry-specialist auditors (national-level industry leaders, citylevel industry leaders or joint city-national industry leaders). Moreover, firms with better CSR performance related to product quality and the environment in controversial industries are found to select non-specialized auditors. The results suggest that such firms may overinvest in CSR activities associated with the environment and product issues to disguise the sin nature of their manufactured goods, and simultaneously engage low quality auditors perhaps to avoid full disclosure of potential environmental and legal liabilities. Overall, we conclude that CSR is associated with the non-controversial firms ensuring high quality financial reporting in response to societal expectations, and thus CSR firms in such industries have strong incentives to engage industry-specialist auditors.

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Controlling shareholders, Control rights, Cash-flow rights, Excess board seats control, Financial restatements, M41, G34,