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Press freedom and operational losses: The monitoring role of the media

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  • Berlinger, Edina
  • Lilla Keresztúri, Judit
  • Lublóy, Ágnes
  • Vőneki Tamásné, Zsuzsanna

Abstract

We investigate the monitoring role of the media, its detection and deterrence effects in corporate operational losses. Relying on our theoretical model, we analyze 8,144 loss events from 132 countries between 2008 and 2019. Controlling for factors related to governance, living standards, business cycles, and firm size, we find that press freedom has a significant positive effect both on the frequency and severity of the observed operationallosses. An improvement of one standard deviation in press freedom yields around 43% more and 71% higher public losses. Our estimations on hidden losses indicate that the worldwide detection rate of operational losses might be smaller than 53% and 13% in terms of number and value, respectively. Furthermore, in countries with a tightly controlled media, hidden operational risks might be tremendous. We suggest using public databases more carefully, adjusting operational risk models for the reporting bias, and promoting press freedom to improve corporate governance structures.

Suggested Citation

  • Berlinger, Edina & Lilla Keresztúri, Judit & Lublóy, Ágnes & Vőneki Tamásné, Zsuzsanna, 2022. "Press freedom and operational losses: The monitoring role of the media," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:intfin:v:77:y:2022:i:c:s1042443121002006
    DOI: 10.1016/j.intfin.2021.101496
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    Cited by:

    1. Márkus, Martin, 2023. "A társadalmi felelősségi pontszámok és a működési kockázat kapcsolata kockázati kategóriák szerint [The relationship between the ESG score and operational risk in different risk categories]," Közgazdasági Szemle (Economic Review - monthly of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences), Közgazdasági Szemle Alapítvány (Economic Review Foundation), vol. 0(7), pages 746-771.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Corporate governance; Media; Press freedom; Operational losses; Frequency; Severity; Risk management; Reporting bias;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G32 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Financing Policy; Financial Risk and Risk Management; Capital and Ownership Structure; Value of Firms; Goodwill
    • G38 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness

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