Centre for Financial and Corporate Integrity (CFCI) Postgraduate Research
Research Coventry
discover more online www.coventry.ac.uk/research
Welcome to the Centre for Financial and Corporate Integrity As the Executive Director it is my pleasure to introduce you to the Centre for Financial and Corporate Integrity (CFCI). Our research centre was established in 2017, with the purpose of exploring the complex interrelationships between economics, finance, accounting and law that together inform transformative events facing global corporations and affect relevant stakeholders in terms of social, economic and environmental welfare and sustainability. The CFCI brings our expertise in finance, economics, corporate accountability and law together to provide an appropriate ‘hub’ to explore the synergetic and interdisciplinary nature of such research problems, and external drivers of financial and economic contemporary problems facing global businesses. As a postgraduate researcher (PGR) within the centre you will be encouraged to access and engage with our academic staff, become an active member of our lively PhD community and take the opportunity to enhance and promote your research to the widest possible audience.
Professor Panagiotis Andrikopoulos Executive Director
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About CFCI The CFCI was established in 2017 to bring a unique interdisciplinary approach exploring the complex interrelationships between economics, finance, accounting and law that together inform transformative issues and events facing global corporations and how these affect relevant stakeholders in terms of social, economic and environmental welfare and sustainability. Transformative issues and events, including corporate scandals, global financial crises, economic instability and inequality in welfare allocation, have placed increased public scrutiny on the operation of financial markets; the way organisations are governed; compliance with laws and regulations; alongside their wider responsibility to society. Existing theoretical foundations in finance, economics and corporate accountability research largely ignore the complex interrelationships between the disciplines that are evident in such transformative events. CFCI brings this expertise together to provide an appropriate ‘hub’ to explore the synergetic and interdisciplinary nature of research problems, such as financial markets and institutions; accountability, business integrity, governance, law, ethics, risk and compliance. In doing so, it focuses on large corporations across industrial and geographical boundaries.
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Research themes The aim of all our research themes (clusters) is to create awareness and understanding of those issues to a wider audience.
Law, Risk and Compliance (LRC)
Finance and Governance (FG)
This cluster focuses on legal and finance-related research in the context of (but not limited to): financial crime prevention and reporting; implications of financial crime to the society at large; taxation and development; professional ethics; interrelation between corruption, organised crime and financial crime; tax heavens; risk and compliance in antimoney laundering in international banking; corruption in international banking; and corporate financial regulations in China.
This cluster comprises of three interrelated clusters, namely the Corporate Finance and Governance (CFG), Financial Markets and Empirical Asset Pricing (FMEAP) and the Banking and Financial Institutions (BFI). Typical areas of research in this cluster include: executive compensation schemes; corporate governance structures; earnings’ management; stock market efficiency and informational anomalies; market microstructure; microfinance and personal finance; pricing of political and sovereign risks; the development of contemporary theoretical models of banking behaviour; empirical analysis on behavioural and governance characteristics of banks and their impact on banks’ performance and financial stability; microfinance and eradication of poverty; gender empowerment in the financial sector and financial intermediation and social change; and the use of equity crowdfunding in emerging markets.
Applied Economic Analysis and Policy (AEAP) This cluster focuses on various development and economic policy issues including: the economic impact of armed conflict and political instability; economics of natural resources; foreign aid and governance; economic development; health economics; and behavioural and experimental economics. Particular attention is given to the following key areas: (i) the ‘resource curse’ and its link to economic destruction, (ii) the effect of foreign aid and governance on economic development, (iii) environmental regulations and economic sustainability, (iv) the role of ICT in improving institutional quality, (v) environmental policy, trade and investment flows, and (vi) trade liberalisation and the environment.
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Research environment CFCI engages with and produce multidisciplinary research results primarily for enduser stakeholders (local education authorities, businesses, government agencies, banks, practitioners, etc.). Hence, drive and design for impact are all inherent and built in its research from the start. CFCI conducts cutting edge and original research within societal relevance and impact, whereby some of our research (e.g. PROTAX, criminalisation of whistle-blowers, use of Artificial Intelligence in fraud investigations) is pivotal (key reference point) for other and future research activities. CFCI provides opportunities for early career academics and our PGRs in these endeavours for their respective personal development and exposure to advanced, comparative and international/collaborative research. As a result, a number of our PGRs have taken part not only the preparation of academic conferences, but also presented their work at these events.
The centre has a wide network of formal and informal partnerships within the EU, Middle East, South East Asia and Africa. The CFCI has also a sister-centre in China, the Joint Research Centre in Finance and Law, which is a cooperative initiative for cross-disciplinary research in financial regulation, compliance and corporate fraud between the CFCI and the South West University of Political Science and Law in Chongqing (China). The Centre for Financial and Corporate Integrity is situated at the heart of the university’s Faculty of Business and Law (FBL) on the fourth floor of the William Morris Building. As FBL is one of the largest faculties of the university, this building is teeming with activity.
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Postgraduate research: what we offer The CFCI creates many opportunities for our PGR community. Some of our activities include: ▪ PGR community building events: regular meetings focusing on students’ experience and networking. ▪ CFCI Seminar Series: held at regular intervals (weekly or fortnightly), with guest presentations from existing members, international visiting researchers and invited speakers. ▪ Specialised research workshops: e.g. quantitative research methodology and software skills. Within our collegiate environment, our PhD candidates are well supported both within CFCI and FBL. The programmes are overseen by the university's Doctoral College, which gives our PhD candidates access to additional learning, networking and engagement opportunities.
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“I am a third year PGR in the Centre for Financial and Corporate Integrity. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Coventry and have found the staff to be really supportive and helpful. I’ve had some personal issues (two separate broken legs!) and my supervisors were massively accommodating and able to put measures in place so that I could study remotely. I came direct from industry, and was a mature student with just an undergraduate degree. I was worried that I would be out of my depth and feel like I was making a massive academic jump to PhD level study, but the support of my team and the wider staff community, such as student support services and the library subject team, have helped to smooth the transition. I have also been able to take part in two events within the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Festival of Social Sciences on bribery and corruption, helping to present research findings to both the public and to professional interested parties, which will be very useful for me as I look towards what I’m going to do after my PhD.” Mairi Laird Year 3 PGR student in CFCI
“A PhD programme plays a key role in contributing new knowledge to a field of study as well as developing the skills of the upcoming researcher. Coventry University has so far provided an outstanding experience by improving upon my current skill sets, such as analysis, problem solving, research, information management, and written and oral communication, to develop my identity as a researcher. Equally, the support and resources provided by Coventry University have encouraged progression and development of researchers, emphasising the value that research students in different faculties provide to both institutions and wider society. As a result, I would recommend any student wishing to peruse a research degree to highly consider Coventry University if you are passionate about developing intellectually and being part of a wider community that aims to develop our understanding of the world.” Leitrim Pearson Year 1 PGR student in CFCI
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Find us on social media:
PGR enquiries Dr Jin Park, PGR Director (CFCI) E: jin.park@coventry.ac.uk Find us Faculty of Business and Law William Morris, 4th Floor (WM411) Gosford Street, Coventry www.coventry.ac.uk/cfci
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