Qualitative Research in Financial Markets

Carlo Massironi; Marco Guicciardi

2011 Qualitative Research in Financial Markets

doi: 10.1108/17554171111176895

Purpose – This paper aims to introduce the reader to investigate some aspects of investment decision making from a constructivist perspective. Design/methodology/approach – The constructivist perspective is introduced in its dual nature of epistemology and of modelization. From constructivist epistemology, the paper mentions the corollaries of theoretical pluralism and cognitive pragmatism. From Kruglanski and Ajzen's Lay epistemology theory, the paper presents in more detail a constructivist modelization for the study and improvement of formal processes of investment decision making. Findings – Beginning from the proposed framework, the paper indicates the lines for the development of a critical (or reflective) investment decision‐making attitude. This is an investment decision making which is able to reflect on its own constructs and cognitive processes in order to develop investment processes with a higher “constructivist awareness” and efficacy. Originality/value – The proposed modelization can contribute to the work of those dedicated to the development of better formal processes of investment. The paper presents three examples of possible applications potentially useful for the improvement of the processes of asset valuation of value investors.

George Bragues

2011 Qualitative Research in Financial Markets

doi: 10.1108/17554171111176903

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to explore the lessons offered by the financial crisis about the appropriate epistemological approaches to apply in the study of human affairs in general, and of the financial markets in particular. Design/methodology/approach – The paper applies a qualitative and historical approach invoking debates in the philosophy of social science to dominant themes and concepts in modern quantitative finance. It is argued that underlying the theory and practice of modern quantitative finance is a commitment to an empiricist epistemology modeled on the natural sciences. Findings – In the financial crisis, modern social science, with its positivist/quantitative orientation, was put to the test in a way that it had never been before. That it failed this test is one of the chief lessons of the financial crisis. Mathematical techniques are inherently incapable of accounting for human behaviour. The crisis serves to underline that a fundamental divide exists between the natural and human realms. Practical implications – While the mathematical‐positivist techniques continue to hold some promise in the study of finance, it has become obvious that this dominant approach needs be enhanced by more qualitative techniques. Originality/value – The paper shows that although in popular media outlets the mathematization of finance has been singled out as a cause of the crisis, the broader implications for the analysis of human activity have not yet been probed. Nor, in the wake of the crisis, has there been a systematic, philosophically informed, critique of the positivist‐quantitative orientation buttressing academic research into the financial markets.

Lukasz Prorokowski

2011 Qualitative Research in Financial Markets

doi: 10.1108/17554171111176912

Purpose – Previous academic literature indicates that the case of the banking crises recovery, in view of implemented regulations and policies, differs across times and countries. This is explained by varied institutional environments in which banking sectors operate, and in which financial crises persist. Therefore, the aim of this study is to prioritize investigation of the regulatory framework in the crisis‐response policies across European countries affected by the current financial turmoil. In order to elicit most accurate results and fill in the gap in existing literature on banking crises, the paper aims to focus on both qualitative and quantitative methodological frameworks in order to ensure that the concerns raised by practitioners are addressed and implications for the regulatory processes instrumented. Design/methodology/approach – The emphasis of the current study has been laid to flag the region‐ and country‐specific vulnerabilities in regulatory framework employed for banking crisis recovery. Additional focus has been put on groups of systemic risk which evolved from the current financial crisis and ways these risks can be ameliorated. Furthermore, the current paper strives to explore the ideas of ways to ameliorate negative outcomes of the global crisis and mitigate common risks with reference to the flawed regulations. Especially, important issues have been raised by the interviewed experts who put forward their opinions on the ways of lifting the regulatory shortcomings and costs of remedies identified in the study and who provided solutions to ensuring the financial stability of European capital markets. Findings – The study highlighted areas of regulations that require immediate attention and which failed to prevent financial markets from the current banking crisis. These findings are then summarized with constructive proposals on how to amend banking sector and financial regulations. The study also provides a cross‐European comparison of the financial crisis‐recovery policies, evaluating solutions adopted in various selected European countries. Henceforth, the empirical model tested the possibility of a tradeoff existing between remedies which involve substantial public funds and exert burden on both fiscal balances and taxpayers, and the speed and effectiveness of the recovery processes. To this point, no tradeoff has been found. Moreover, contrasting the current banking crisis to the past financial market disturbances, highlighted the magnitude of the nascent economic downturn prevailing in Europe. Originality/value – Since the existing body of literature abounds in studies devoted to investigations of the causes for the current banking crisis, the research focus of this paper has been shifted away from the factors and flawed regulations that trigger banking crises. To this point, the paper has traits of pioneering work.

Sanjeev Mittal; Pankaj Gupta; K. Jain

2011 Qualitative Research in Financial Markets

doi: 10.1108/17554171111176921

Purpose – Quantitative methods known as scoring models have been traditionally developed for credit granting decisions using statistical procedures. The purpose of this paper is to develop a non‐parametric credit scoring model for micro enterprises that are not maintaining balance sheets, and without having a track record of performance and other credit‐worthy parameters. Design/methodology/approach – Multilayer perceptron procedure is used to evaluate credit reliability in three classes of risk, i.e. bad risk credit, foreclosed risk credit and good risk credit. Findings – The development of a neural network model for micro enterprises facilitates bankers and financial institutions in credit granting decisions in an automatic manner in the Indian context. Originality/value – This study applies comprehensive information on parameters of financial package prepared by Indian financial institutions and banks to micro enterprises to design a credit risk model. This model, instead of categorizing borrowers in terms of their “ability to pay”, attempts a solution to the unsolved problem of credit availability to micro enterprises in an Indian context, having no past performance track record.