Ali M. Kutan, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, USA (Co-editor)
Halil Kiymaz, Rollins College, Crummer Graduate School of Business, USA (Consulting Editor)
Purpose and Research Questions
Traditionally confined to Islamic emerging market countries, Islamic Finance has now become a global phenomenon due in large part because it is perceived as less risky than the conventional finance – especially during crises. The Islamic Financial services
industry has grown significantly over the last 10 years, reaching a value of more than $1.88 trillion by 2015.
Despite this exponential growth, research and understanding of Islamic Finance is still in its infancy, with recent work comparing Islamic and conventional banks yielding inconclusive evidence in terms of superior efficiency, stability, and riskiness. Shariah
compliant financial products (e.g., Islamic mutual funds) have been investigated before the financial crises of 2008-2010 focusing on risk/return features and comparison with conventional ones with mixed results. We have similar studies comparing Islamic
and conventional stock indices’ performance, but again the existing literature is not unanimous in finding a loss of diversification in Islamic indices affecting overall performance. Most recently, papers have begun to assess sukuk characteristics, the stock
market reaction to their issuance and their co-movements with Shariah and conventional stocks, but little is known about their performance, risk/return profile and their relationship with conventional bonds. Finally, there are almost no studies comparing
Islamic and conventional stock exchange structures, governance and profitability and very little is known about takaful or the role/impact of Shariah boards in Islamic financial institutions.
Therefore, in this issue, we will accept original papers that investigate new topics such as sukuk, Islamic mutual funds, Islamic stock exchanges, and takaful. We are also interested in Islamic banking papers, but only if they provide new perspectives on risks/opportunities
or new regulatory issues that are not yet well covered by previous literature.
In addition to the focus upon understanding the current Islamic finance landscape, we will also accept papers on the Islamic business environment in general. International business researchers decry the appalling “lack of interest in studying how religious
cultures enhance or retard the globalization of economic activity… in light of the apparent religious fervor in many parts of the global economy” (Lewer & Van den Berg, 2007:765). This special issue will address this question from an Islamic perspective. Sample
topics may include but are not limited to the following: Islamic differences in the management of organizations and workplace spirituality; economic moralities and the role of Islam in shaping business practices; Islam’s role in creating synergy and conflict;
and the relationship of Islam to ethical or socially-responsible investment.
Potential Topics of Interest
We welcome papers within the broadly areas of Islamic finance, with a specific focus on the sectors/topics less covered by previous literature. We seek both theoretical and empirical papers that may address, but are not limited to, the following list of potential
topics:
• Global financial crises and Islamic financial institutions/products
• Islamic banking and systemic risk
• Liquidity risk in Islamic banking
• Basel 3 and Islamic banking
• Islamic banking and ‘too big to fail’ status
• Influence of oil prices on Islamic banks’ risk and performance
• Risk and return of sukuk and conventional bonds
• Pricing of sukuk
• Islamic mutual funds’ performance around/after financial crises
• Risk and return of Islamic and conventional stock indexes
• Risk and return of Shariah compliant stocks
• Portfolio maximization with Shariah compliant financial instruments
• Comparison between Islamic and SRI investments
• Governance, profitability, structure of Islamic and conventional stock exchanges
• Liquidity, efficiency, business models of Islamic stock exchanges
• The role of Shariah board in Islamic financial institutions
• Corporate governance in Islamic financial institutions
• Risk, returns and business models of takaful and conventional insurance
• Islamic differences in the management of organizations and workplace spirituality
• Economic moralities and the role of Islam in shaping business practices
• Islam’s role in creating synergy and conflict
• Relationship of Islam to ethical or socially-responsible investment.
Deadlines and Submission Guidelines
• The special issue will feature the best papers from a development workshop at the Academy of International Business US Southeast (AIB-SE) chapter meeting to be held in Washington DC, October 27 – 29, 2017, as well as submissions in response to
the general call for papers. Based on editorial review, top rated papers will be invited to go through additional peer review to be considered for publication. Manuscripts for the special issue should be submitted through the IJoEM website:
http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/ijoem.
• The AIBSE workshop submission deadline is June 15, 2017. For additional information on the 2017 AIB-SE Conference, visit:
http://www.aibse.org