Writing a positive empirical accounting and finance journal article using data from developing and emerging economies: Reflections from selected African studies

Abstract

There has been significant increase in the amount of empirical studies in accounting and finance journals that use data exclusively from developing and emerging economies in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Middle East, South America and the Caribbean and that employ positivist approaches, relying almost exclusively on quantitative research methods. Whilst this growth is commendable, a considerable number of such studies have been criticised for ‘blindly’ or ‘naively’ applying theories and approaches (‘naïve empiricism’) that are often more appropriate to developed economies contexts rather than the ones on developing and emerging economies. This tends to impair their distinctiveness, and consequently, their unique role in contributing to broader extant debates in positivist empirical accounting and finance literature. In this paper, I set out to briefly address some of the key issues that authors of such studies may take into account when conceiving, designing and executing their studies based largely on my personal efforts, experiences, insights and lessons learnt, including from other co-authors, colleagues, managers, mentors, supervisors and students over the years. Specifically, I argue that authors of such studies need to fully understand and carefully consider the unique contextual developmental issues, draw insights from appropriate theories, and employ suitable quantitative data and data analyses techniques in executing their studies. I hope that in doing so, that the distinctive contribution/s of such studies may be enhanced.