/library/oar/handle/123456789/4901 2025-12-27T15:27:41Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/115191 Title: The financial implications of second pillar pensions : a listed company case study Abstract: Purpose: The objectives of this study are to evaluate the accounting treatment required by IAS 19 for post-employment benefits while also to assess the financial implications of a second pillar pension. Particular attention is given to the latest developments of IAS 19 and the effects that the introduction of a Defined Benefit or a Defined Contribution plan could have on the financial statements of one of the listed entities in Malta under a number of different scenarios. Design: A qualitative case study approach was deemed to be the most appropriate methodology for this dissertation whereby employee data was provided by the selected listed entity. Such data was used to compute the pension assets and liabilities as required by IAS 19. Findings: The findings of this dissertation revealed that under all the scenarios presented, in a Defined Benefit scheme, the pension obligation had a material impact on the financial statements of the company while the decrease in profits ranged from €0.4m to €1.7m. As with respect to the Defined Contribution scheme, the decrease in profits ranged from €0.2m to €0.7m while the increase in liabilities amounted to between 1% and 3%. Conclusion: This study concludes that Defined Benefit schemes could prove to be a burden on this listed entity due to the material change in the company’s liabilities and the volatility caused by Fair Value accounting. On the other hand, Defined Contribution schemes can be manageable, although the impact on profits cannot be ignored. Implications: This study therefore implies that caution should prevail in the implementation of occupational pensions in Malta. Predominantly, there should be an understanding of the financial implications on Maltese entities while also establishing a rigorous legal framework. Description: M.ACCTY. 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/103776 Title: The role of migration within the context of the Maltese labour market Abstract: Throughout the years, the European Union has been facing a situation of an ageing population. As a result, a prominent subject of interest is whether replacement migration should be further encouraged. Inward/outward labour migration has an economic effect on EU economies, since it particularly directly affects labour markets. In such a context, the aim of this study was to try and assess how migration has affected Malta’s labour market, thus unemployment and the real wage level. The array of empirical literature does not agree on conclusive relationships between these variables, as the result depends upon the country being surveyed and the skill level of both migrants and natives. Nonetheless, the effect of migration on labour markets seems to be minimal. The yearly data obtained with respect to migration for the period 1977-2013 showed that, with an exception in 1987, there was always positive net immigration in Malta. The Johansen procedure was utilised to ascertain that the variables are cointegrated; in fact, a cointegrating relationship was found. The long run cointegrating solution suggested that a significant negative relationship exists both between positive net immigration and the unemployment rate and also between net immigration and real wage levels. Even though the effects were small and statistically insignificant, the same negative relationships were observed over the short-run, following the construction of a vector error correction model. Following the results, a set of policy implications were outlined, primarily in respect of challenging negative traditional stereotype thinking; improving working conditions, equality and integration of immigrants in the labour market. Description: B.COM.(HONS)ECONOMICS 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/103775 Title: An economic analysis of the demand of electricity in the Maltese islands Abstract: The aim of this dissertation is to undertake an empirical analysis of the possible factors affecting electricity demand in Malta, through the application of the ARDL approach to Cointegration, based on a quarterly data set ranging from 2000 up to 2013. This study aims to quantitatively assess the short run and long run impacts of Electrical price, Compensation to Maltese households, Gross Value Added, Temperature and Inbound Tourism on the fluctuations in the demand for electricity in Malta. The study concludes that in the short-term, electrical consumption has been price and income inelastic, having the expected signs, implying possible economic policy recommendations. In addition, the Gross Value Added and inbound tourism also implied possible related economic policy recommendations provided that these were also statistically and economically significant, having their expected signs. On the other hand, the main conclusion with regards to the long-term electricity demand for Malta is that except for the seasonality variables, all of the underlying variables were found to be statistically and economically insignificant, implying that further research should be undertaken in this field of study in order to attain more robust short and long-term results. Description: B.COM.(HONS)ECONOMICS 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z /library/oar/handle/123456789/103774 Title: Malta's in-work benefit scheme : a comparative analysis with the earned income tax credit and the working tax credit Abstract: Work is the key to alleviate people from poverty and social exclusion. People sometimes fall into poverty traps and are often fully dependent on social services. The latter is a detriment to the economy and given the ageing process, it is imperative that government ensures that the working population is not dependent on social services, but it is engaged in employment. This dissertation will assess the situation of single parents vis-a-vis the labour market, and will attempt to find ways on how to encourage employment and discourage dependencies. The results presented in this study confirm that all the three in-work benefits are useful to accomplish the latter Description: B.COM.(HONS)ECONOMICS 2015-01-01T00:00:00Z