MEAFA has recently formalised links with the Centre of Analysis and Risk Investment (CAIR) at the University of Manchester.
The link was established through the invitation of Dr Christos Grambovas to The University of Sydney (March 2007), where we discussed potential joint research projects and other ways for strengthening this important collaboration. The visit of Christos was indeed very successful, and amongst other activities, it gave rise to a new joint research paper with Dr Demetris Christodoulou and Prof Stuart McLeay. The paper will investigate the "Differential Timeliness and Persistence in Accounting Earnings" by using modern econometric techniques such as panel data methods and structural break methodology, an expertise which is accessible from other members of MEAFA and especially from Dr Vasilis Sarafidis and Dr Richard Gerlach.
The next meeting between representatives of the two research groups has been scheduled to take place in Manchester, at the forthcoming international ESRC conference on "The Transition to International Accounting Standards: Harmonisation or Discord?", organised by CAIR. Dr Demetris Christodoulou will attend this meeting as MEAFA's representative.