Key determinants of deposits volume using CAMEL rating system: The case of Saudi banks.

CAMEL is considered one of the well-known banking rating systems used to build a proper bank ranking. In our paper, we investigate the CAMEL rating for Saudi banks, which is considered the second largest banking sector in GCC. The Saudi banking sector consists of 11 banks and is the leading sector in the Saudi stock index (TASI). In this research, we aim to determine the ranking of Saudi banks according to CAMEL composite and CAMEL overall ratings and explore the effects of these ratings on banks' total deposits for the period from 2014 to 2018. The methodology involves four phases. In the first phase, we calculate the key financial ratios of CAMEL's composites for each bank. In the second phase, we rank the banks from 1 to 11 to each one of CAMEL's composites for each bank per year. In the third phase, we rank Saudi banks according to CAMEL composite and CAMEL overall. Finally, in the fourth phase, we run a regression model using CAMEL financial ratios rank as independent variable and banks' total deposits as a dependent variable. Using the stepwise regression method, the results indicated that the best regression model has an adjusted R2 of 73.4% and a standard error of around 0.58. The results further indicated that capital measured by CAR, management as an efficiency ratio, earning with ROE proxy, and liquidity as loans to deposits have positive effects on banks' total deposits. Meanwhile, earnings as net interest income to net revenue and liquidity calculated by CASA have a negative effect on banks' total deposits. Finally, asset quality ratios and the rest of the ratios have no significant effect on banks' total deposits.

Research update: The relation between ME/CFS disease burden and research funding in the USA.

BACKGROUND: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a debilitating, chronic, multisystem disease that affects an estimated 1 to 2.5 million Americans. It has no widely accepted biomarkers and no FDA-approved treatment. ME/CFS has traditionally been one of the lowest funded diseases by the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH). OBJECTIVES: We provide here an update to our 2016 article, which estimated the disease burden of ME/CFS in the United States in 2013 and its relation to NIH's 2015 analysis of research funding and disease burden. This update incorporates more recent burden data from 2015 and funding data from 2017. METHODS: We perform a regression analysis on funding versus disease burden to determine 2017 funding levels that would be commensurate with burden. Burden figures for 2017 are estimated using population-based extrapolations of earlier data. RESULTS: We find the disease burden of ME/CFS is double that of HIV/AIDS and over half that of breast cancer. We also find that ME/CFS is more underfunded with respect to burden than any disease in NIH's analysis of funding and disease burden, with ME/CFS receiving roughly 7% of that commensurate with disease burden. CONCLUSIONS: To be commensurate with disease burden, NIH funding would need to increase roughly 14-fold.

Funders improved the management of learning and clustering effects through design and analysis of randomized trials involving surgery.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to provide insight into current practice in planning for, and acknowledging, the presence of learning and clustering effects, by treating center and surgeon, when developing randomized surgical trials. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Complexities associated with delivering surgical interventions, such as clustering effects, by center or surgeon, and surgical learning should be considered at trial design. Main trial publications, within the wider literature, under-report these considerations. Funded applications, within a 4-year period, from a leading UK funding body were searched. Data were extracted on considerations for learning and clustering effects and the driver, funder, or applicant, behind these. RESULTS: Fifty trials were eligible. Managing learning through establishing predefined center and surgeon credentials was common. One planned exploratory analysis of learning within center, and two within surgeon. Clustering, by site and surgeon, was often managed through stratifying randomization, with 81% and 60%, respectively, also planning to subsequently adjust analysis. One-third of responses to referees contained funder led changes accounting for learning and/or clustering. CONCLUSION: This review indicates that researchers do consider impact of learning and clustering, by center and surgeon, during trial development. Furthermore, the funder is identified as a potential driver of considerations.

Benefits of global financial reporting models for developing markets: The case of Romania.

The paper explores the benefits of global financial reporting models for developing countries, discussing the case of Romania, which, at the recommendations of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, exceeded the minimum requirements of the European Union, by imposing the full adoption of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in individual financial statements of listed companies. Using regression analysis and decomposition techniques, the paper explores the evolution in value relevance of financial variables based on pre-(2009-2012) and post-(2014-2016) adoption samples, showing that after IFRS adoption financial information becomes significantly more relevant for equity valuations. We also provide empirical evidence showing that the degree of relevance for stock valuation, as well as the IFRS impact varies across types of firms. Overall, our findings tend to indicate the success of the financial reporting reform, which could be relevant for other jurisdictions facing similar decisions.

Recommendations to Sustain the Academic Mission Ecosystem at U.S. Medical Schools.

Academic medical center (AMC) faculty, administrators, and leaders have the critical tasks of teaching and training the next generation of health care providers and biomedical researchers, as well as generating new knowledge that improves the health of all. In the United States, medical schools and their affiliated hospitals train remarkably high-quality physicians and scientists, and the research conducted at these institutions results in advances in health. To that end, AMCs have become essential engines for driving better health in the United States and the rest of the world; they also have become essential engines driving the economies of their respective communities and regions. The education and research missions, however, require subsidization because tuition and extramural grant funding do not cover the costs of these endeavors. This subsidization largely has come from revenues generated by AMCs' clinical endeavors. The viability of this cross-subsidization, however, is increasingly threatened in the current clinical environment. The authors of this Perspective discuss these issues in depth and provide some concrete recommendations to address these challenges. They hope to stimulate discussion and, ultimately, ensure the financial viability of U.S. AMCs-a national resource of utmost importance. Recommendations to sustain research include creating strategic biomedical research plans, developing a defined and sustained model to support National Institutes of Health funding that keeps pace with inflation, and evolving funding mechanisms. Recommendations to sustain medical education include limiting student debt, creating more cost-effective curricula, and ensuring that clinical training opportunities that meet national standards are available to students.

Searching for the one.

The views of peers are important when applying for a faculty position, but so are research plans and being a good 'fit'. Many universities are also trying to reduce bias in their recruitment processes.

To fund or not to fund?

Funding agencies use many different criteria and peer review strategies to assess grant proposals.

Decisions, decisions.

Journals are exploring new approaches to peer review in order to reduce bias, increase transparency and respond to author preferences. Funders are also getting involved.

Integrating Equity in a Public Health Funding Strategy.

OBJECTIVE: Equity can be valuable to guide decision makers about where to target funds; however, there are few studies for modeling vertical equity in public health program funding strategies. This case study modeled vertical equity in the funding strategy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Colorectal Cancer Control Program. DESIGN: To integrate vertical equity by using historical funding and health data, we (a) examined the need for colorectal cancer screening, (b) conducted multiple regressions to examine the relationship between factors of need and funding of states, (c) stratified states into similar need groups, (d) estimated vertical equity within groups, and (e) assessed equity in the funding distribution. RESULTS: Certain states with similar needs had high relative funding, whereas other states with similar needs had low relative funding. CONCLUSION: The methods used to integrate vertical equity in this case study could be applied in publicly funded programs to potentially minimize inequities and improve outcomes.

Making activity-based funding work for mental health.

The implementation of activity-based funding (ABF) in mental health from 1 July 2013 has significant risks and benefits. It is critical that the process of implementation is consistent with Australia's cherished goal of establishing a genuine and effective model of community-based mental health care. The infrastructure to support the application of ABF to mental health is currently weak and requires considerable development. States and territories are struggling to meet existing demand for largely hospital-based acute mental health care. There is a risk that valuable ABF-driven Commonwealth growth funds may be used to prop up these systems rather than drive the emergence of new models of community-based care. Some of these new models exist now and this article provides a short description. The aim is to help the Independent Hospital Pricing Authority better understand the landscape of mental health into which it now seeks to deploy ABF.

Healthcare capital projects: how to avoid common problems.

Hospital management teams should be aware of and prepared to avoid eight key problems for healthcare capital projects: Inadequate resources from the start. Over-reliance on equipment planners. Limited coordination between construction and acquisition teams. Insufficient budget management process. Failure to engage proper outside assistance. Limited management experience with large capital projects. Lack of predefined internal process management. Inefficient organizational feedback channels.

Capitalising in the long term.

Bernd Rechel, Stephen Wright, Nigel Edwards, Barrie Dowdeswell and Martin McKee report on an international study on improving the effectiveness of health capital investment which analyses innovative European capital projects and examines the key issues that arise. The study, by the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies and the European Health Property Network/European Centre for Health Assets & Architecture, suggests that hospital design that takes into account facility management costs results in significant efficiency gains.