political instability

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of political instability in the context of the association between board of directors (BOD) and audit committee (AC) quality as indicators of corporate governance effectiveness and earnings management (EM). The non-financial listed companies on the Palestine Exchange (PEX) between the period from 2011 to 2018 were the samples of the study. Based on the OLS regression results by using a panel data of 232 observations, the findings show that the BOD quality is positively related to EM, while AC quality is negatively associated with EM. The results also reveal that political instability plays a moderating role by weakening the relationship between the AC quality and EM during the severe unstable political situation, while the BOD quality is negatively associated with EM under the same situation. This finding implies that the BODs might substitute ACs under severe political instabilities to protect the stockholders and stakeholders’ interests. Unlike most previous studies, this article addresses political instability as a moderating variable for the relationship between the BOD and AC quality as a composite measure of EM in the most emerging and smallest stock market in the region. The results of this work may assist the regulatory bodies, policymakers, and practitioners in revising the corporate governance code to promote the efficiency of the BOD and AC monitoring functions for the purpose to improve the faithfulness and reliability of financial reports and also to deter the management from engaging in critical levels of EM.

Purpose: The objective of this study is to develop a comprehensive framework for identifying the challenges facing human resource management (HRM) in the education system of Iraq. By leveraging insights from key stakeholders, the study aims to provide detailed understanding and solutions to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of HRM practices in Iraqi educational institutions. Methodology: This qualitative study utilized a purposive sampling method to select 12 experts from the Iraqi education sector, focusing on the provinces of Maysan, Baghdad, and Dhi Qar. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, which were then transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis facilitated by NVivo software. The analysis aimed to identify key themes related to HRM challenges, ensuring the validity of findings through researcher self-review and verification control. Findings: The study identified several significant challenges affecting HRM in Iraq's education system. Financial constraints, such as low salaries for educational staff and inadequate funding for schools, were pervasive. Infrastructural deficiencies, including old and poorly maintained school buildings, contributed to an unconducive learning environment. There was also a lack of technological integration, with schools insufficiently equipped and teachers untrained in using modern educational tools. Additional issues included inadequate parental and governmental support, a curriculum misaligned with societal and market needs, teacher demotivation, outdated assessment methods, and political instability influencing educational policies. Conclusion: Effective HRM practices, such as performance-based budgeting, financial decentralization, technological integration, and comprehensive teacher training programs, are essential for enhancing educator performance and improving educational quality.