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The aim of this paper is to identify the risks that need to be addressed when holding fine art, determine which are perceived as being the most important, and whether the risk perception is influenced by demographic variables such as age, educational background, and field of occupation. To identify the risks and evaluate the risk perception, we used a purposely designed questionnaire and sent it via various sources of communication systems and applications to individuals knowledgeable on fine arts. Findings revealed that, generally, art deterioration, art fraud, and art theft are the three main highlighted risks, with art deterioration considered in the high-risk range. In terms of risk perception, forgery is the biggest concern. On the other hand, considerations of the investment value of art lessened perceived risk exposure. Furthermore, the study has shown that certain risk perceptions were influenced by the participants' demographic variables. Both the identified risks and risk perception considerations analyzed within this study provide us with insights as to what needs to be considered when offering fine art insurance, particularly when it comes to which risks that are perceived as being the most pressing by potential policyholders, and how these perceptions vary according to individual demographics variables as noted above.

In this study, we explore the emerging derisking phenomenon by identifying and analysing the main factors that are affected by, and the implications of, the derisking process by focusing on the key drivers and implications of derisking specific to Malta. To do this, we carried out 32 interviews with individuals who have a good or excellent level of expertise in derisking and administered a survey, completed by 296 participants who were filtered to ensure their level of expertise, resulting in 285 valid participant surveys. In total, between the interviews and the survey, we had 317 valid participants. Findings showed that to maximise the effectiveness of derisking, one needs to find the right balance of adequately managing risks without extinguishing business needs. This implies a need for the regulations to be balanced and proportionate. This study is a relevant contributor to future derisking to be conducted in Malta and serves as a benchmark for further studies. Moreover, this research project accentuates the need for increased awareness, knowledge and expertise of derisking in Malta. Consequently, the provision of education to professionals is important so that such professionals are able to keep abreast with all the latest developments regarding derisking and AML/CFT (antimoney laundering and combatting the financing of terrorism).

Liquidity as a field of study has received considerable attention from various researchers over the last few years. We have conducted this research in order to identify the factors affecting the liquidity of the banking system of nine Balkan countries, specifically Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania and Serbia for a period of sixteen years.

Liquidity as a field of study has received considerable attention from various researchers over the last few years. We have conducted this research in order to identify the factors affecting the liquidity of the banking system of nine Balkan countries, specifically Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania and Serbia for a period of sixteen years. We collected data on factors such as capital adequacy, non-performing loans, deposit growth and bank profitability and analysed them using the following statistical techniques: a linear regression model using Pooled Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), a Fixed Effects Model, a Random Effects Model and a Hausman-Taylor regression to account for potential endogeneity, on a set of data collected from banks in nine Balkan states, during the period 2000-2015. We also analysed the macroeconomic factors influencing the bank's liquidity, such as GDP, inflation, unemployment and marginal interest rates. Based on panel data analysis, it is noted that specific factors and macroeconomic factors, specifically, capital adequacy, non-performing loans, deposit growth, GDP, unemployment rate and marginal interest rate, significantly affect bank liquidity. However, inflation and profitability do not.

Problem loans have generated considerable academic and policy attention in recent years, fueled in part by the aftermath of the 2008-2009 economic crisis and subsequent credit crunch. Problem loans, referred to as non-performing loans (NPL), are loans which are not paid in the structured time period as set in the contract between the borrower and the bank. The goal of this study is to show the influence, in transition countries, of macroeconomic factors on the level of these loans. Specifically, factors such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP growth), inflation, unemployment and export growth shall be considered, using a variety of econometric models and specifications to ensure robustness, including Fixed and Random Effects Models and Arellano-Bond Dynamic Panel estimation. We use data from the World Bank and International Monetary Fund for a sample of transition countries over the period 2006 and 2016. Findings show that GDP growth and inflation are both negatively and significantly correlated with the level of NPLs, while unemployment is positively-related to NPLs. These results have important implications for banking stability within transition countries, and the role of macroeconomic policies in this regard.

Currently, there have been various concerns relating to the amount of sports and physical exercise practiced by people in the European Union. Evidence collected by WHO and Eurostate show Malta as having the highest rates of obesity in the European Union. These results are worrying when one considers the consequences of such a condition, ranging from cardiovascular diseases such as angina, stroke and heart attacks to cancer. In this study, we use the economic, neo-classical and heterodox theories to explore sports participation, specifically of Maltese people in handball, badminton and wrestling. We targeted the whole population (n = 565) of registered and active sports participants within the three sport activities during the competitive season 2015-2016. We considered demographic characteristics, economic factors including education, employment and recreational activities, lifestyle factors as well as psychological and sociological factors. Our findings show dependency between gender and sports, the ratio of male to female participating in wrestling is significantly different from that of handball and badminton, dependency between age and sports and wrestling attracts a more mature participant. Given that income is not an issue effecting sports participation, there is a need to be more targeted public policies aimed at encouraging the uptake of sports within Malta as well as an investment by Government to promote sports participation.