Firm-specific Parameters and Earnings Management: A Study in the Indian Context

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 1240-1260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramesh Chandra Das ◽  
Chandra Sekhar Mishra ◽  
Prabina Rajib

This article examines the factors that influence the accrual-based earnings management (AM) and real earnings management (RM) in the Indian context. Different firm-specific parameters as determinants of AM and RM are examined using panel data for 268 listed Indian manufacturing firms for the period 2009–2013. To estimate the AM and RM, Modified Jones Model (Dechow, Sloan, & Sweeney, 1995) and Roychowdhury Model (2006, Journal of Accounting and Economics, 42(3), 335–370) are used, respectively. Findings based on these models indicate that the Indian firms indulge in both AM and RM. Firm-specific parameters namely growth opportunity, financial leverage, firm’s performance and business group affiliation positively affect both AM and RM, whereas firm’s size, institutional ownership and firm age affect negatively. However, accounting flexibility measured by the ratio of net operating assets and sales is only positively related to accrual-based earnings management. Overall, the study finds that firm’s growth opportunity, financial leverage, firm’s performance, institutional ownership, business group affiliation and firm’s age influence both AM and RM.

Paradigm ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 156-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramesh Chandra Das ◽  
Chandra Sekhar Mishra ◽  
Prabina Rajib

This article examines the relationship between accrual-based earnings management (AM) and real earnings management (RM) in the Indian context by considering 673 listed non-financial companies for the period 2009–2013. The article quantifies AM and RM and tests whether Indian companies choose substitute relationship over complementary relationship between AM and RM after factoring firm-specific parameters such as firm size, market-to-book ratio, leverage, accounting flexibility, return on asset (ROA), business group affiliation and absolute accruals. Modified Jones model (1991) and Roychowdhury model (2006) have been used for quantifying AM and RM, respectively. To model the relationship between AM and RM, two-stage least square (2 SLS) regressions method has been used. The results suggest that Indian companies undertake both AM and RM with a higher predisposition towards AM. The positive association between the two supports complementary relationship between two and indicates that Indian companies use AM and RM to garner greater benefit from earnings management.


2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (4/5) ◽  
pp. 427-444 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Badrul Muttakin ◽  
Arifur Khan ◽  
Dessalegn Getie Mihret

Purpose This study aims to investigate the moderating role of audit quality on the association between business group affiliation of firms and earnings management in the South Asian emerging economy of Bangladesh. Design/methodology/approach A usable sample of 917 firm-year observations was drawn from companies listed on the Dhaka Stock Exchange from 2005 to 2013. Data were collected from the annual reports of sample companies. Earnings management was measured using the absolute value of discretionary accruals, and two proxies were used to measure audit quality: auditor size and industry specialisation. Findings Results showed that the level of discretionary accruals is positively associated with business group affiliation status, and higher audit quality reduces this association. This suggests that in environments without strong investor protection, complex ownership structures create opportunities for controlling shareholders to expropriate minority shareholders. The controlling shareholders could then mask this practice through earnings management. The findings also show that in environments lacking strong investor protection, audit quality can help improve earnings quality for group-affiliated firms. Practical implications The results suggest that financial statement users need to consider audit quality for a reasonable evaluation of the earnings quality of business groups. The study also informs regulators by illuminating audit quality as a key area of focus in any effort directed at enhancing stock market efficiency through improved earnings quality in environments where business group affiliation is prevalent. Originality/value This study documents empirical evidence on the moderating effect of audit quality on the positive association between business group affiliation and earnings management.


2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (8) ◽  
pp. 3036-3074 ◽  
Author(s):  
Borja Larrain ◽  
Giorgo Sertsios ◽  
Francisco Urzúa I

Abstract We propose a novel identification strategy for estimating the effects of business group affiliation. We study two-firm business groups, some of which split up during the sample period, leaving some firms as stand-alone firms. We instrument for stand-alone status using shocks to the industry of the other group firm. We find that firms that become stand-alone reduce leverage and investment. Consistent with collateral cross-pledging, the effects are more pronounced when the other firm had high tangibility. Consistent with capital misallocation in groups, the reduction in leverage is stronger in firms that had low (high) profitability (leverage) relative to industry peers. Received July 3, 2017; editorial decision April 7, 2018 by Editor Wei Jiang. Authors have furnished an Internet Appendix, which is available on the Oxford University Press Web site next to the link to the final published paper online.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eswaran Velayutham ◽  
Vijayakumaran Ratnam

Purpose This paper aims to examine the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and shareholder wealth arising from announcement returns of security issuance from a frontier market. It also explores the role of business group affiliation (BGA) on this relationship. Design/methodology/approach The study uses short-term scenarios to examine the link between CSR and shareholder wealth using the event study methodology which helps us mitigate the reverse causality problems related to studies of the relationship between CSR and firm value. Abnormal returns surrounding the security issue announcements were generated using the market model. Findings This paper finds that security issuers with high CSR scores are associated with higher shareholder value. However, this paper finds that CSR activities of security issuers with BGA are value-destroying which is consistent with the agency perspective of CSR. Research limitations/implications This study is limited to only one nascent market, namely the Colombo Stock Exchange. Originality/value This study documents that CSR and BGA are important determinants, among others, of stock price reactions to security offerings in emerging markets.


Author(s):  
Mine Uğurlu

Corporate R&D Investments,that constitute basis for sustainable development, are influenced by external and firm-specific risks.Evidence shows that firms in Turkey have increased R&D spending during subprime crisis despite its procyclicality in most of the emerging countries.This chapter investigates if business group affiliation or corporate diversification that is predominant in Turkey stimulate R&D investments under risk.It focuses on internal capital markets of business groups or conglomerates that may enhance R&D spending by reducing financial constraints, and likelihood of distress of the affiliated firms.The results reveal that group affiliation and diversification positively affect corporate R&D spending when firm-specific risks rise.These results are significant during the global crisis period.Group-affiliated corporations increase their R&D investments as idiosyncratic risks rise.The diversified conglomerates increase R&D investments when earnings volatility and equity erosion rise.Results indicate that large firms are more inclined to reduce R&D investments under risk.


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