Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Earnings Management: An Evidence from Financial Reporting in European Firms

2021 ◽  
pp. 097215092110534
Author(s):  
Naima Lassoued ◽  
Imen Khanchel
Keyword(s):  
Earnings Management ◽  
Least Squares ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Economic Recovery ◽  
Financial Reports ◽  
Discretionary Accrual ◽  
Preceding Period ◽  
The Impact

The aim of this study is to determine the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on earnings management practices. Focusing on a sample of 2,031 firms listed in 15 European countries, the study uses three discretionary accrual metrics as a proxy for earnings management ( Dechow et al., 1995 ; Kothari et al., 2005 ; McNichols, 2002 ) models. To this end, ordinary least squares (OLS) regressions are applied to compare earnings management during the pre-pandemic period (2017q1–2019q4) and the pandemic period (2020q1–2020q4). The results indicate that the sample firms tend to manage earnings during the pandemic period than during the preceding period. This finding implies a reduced reliability of the financial reports during the COVID-19 pandemic. Further analysis provides evidence of significant income-increasing earnings management during 2020. This finding suggests that firms manage earnings upward by alleviating the level of reported losses to rebuild investor and stakeholder confidence needed to support the economic recovery.

Earnings management and audit quality at Damascus securities exchange: Does managerial ownership matter?

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zukaa Mardnly ◽  
Zinab Badran ◽  
Sulaiman Mouselli
Keyword(s):  
Earnings Management ◽  
Ownership Structure ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Audit Quality ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Managerial Ownership ◽  
External Audit ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the individual and combined effect of managerial ownership and external audit quality, as two control mechanisms, on earnings management. Design/methodology/approach This study applies ordinary least squares estimates on fixed-time effects panel regression model to test the impact of the investigated variables on earnings management for the whole population of banks and insurance companies listed at Damascus Securities Exchange (DSE) during the period from 2011 to 2018. Findings The empirical evidence suggests a negative non-linear relationship between managerial ownership (as proxied by board of directors’ ownership) on earnings management. However, neither audit quality nor the simultaneous effect of the managerial ownership and audit quality (Big 4) affects earnings management. Research limitations/implications DSE is dominated by the financial sector and the number of observations is constrained by the recent establishment of DSE and the small number of firms listed at DSE. In addition, the non-availability of data on executive directors’ and foreign ownerships restrict our ability to uncover the impact of different dimensions of ownership structure on earnings management. Practical implications First, it stimulates investors to purchase stocks in financial firms that enjoy both high managerial ownership, as they seem enjoying higher earnings quality. Second, the findings encourage external auditors to consider the ownership structure when choosing their clients as the financial statements’ quality is affected by this structure. Third, researchers may need to consider the role of managerial ownership when analyzing the determinants of earnings management. Originality/value It fills the gap in the literature, as it investigates the impact of both managerial ownership and audit quality on earnings management in a special conflict context and in an unexplored emerging market of DSE. It suggests that managerial ownership exerts a significant role in controlling earnings management practices when loose regulatory environment combines conflict conditions. However, external audit quality fails to counter earnings management practices when conditions are fierce.

scholarly journals The Impact of Corporate Governance on Earning Management of Non-Financial Firms: Evidence from Pakistan

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 304-312
Author(s):  
MUHAMMAD TAHIR KHAN ◽  
IHTESHAM KHAN ◽  
SHAH RAZA KHAN
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Earnings Management ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Fixed Effect Model ◽  
Earnings Information ◽  
Financial Firms ◽  
The Impact

The main objective of the firm is to maximize the shareholder’s wealth; to achieve this objective the management indulge the earnings information by manipulation practices such practices reduce investors’ confidence. Furthermore, a hypothetical dispute recommends that a better quality of financial reporting reduce the information asymmetry, by refining the corporate governance compliance, result in reducing earnings management practices. Thus the main aim of this study is to explore the impact of corporate governance on earnings management by using panel data sample of 257 non-financial firms listed in Pakistan stock exchange for the period of 2012 to 2019 through Fixed effect model along with control variables. The results disclose that the CG system of Pakistan negatively and significantly impacts the EM activities of the companies registered in Pakistan stock exchange. Hence, concludes that the CG system is more effective to prevent the EM process. The entire results are seamless with prior research work that the effective CG scheme of the firms controls the EM and collapse of businesses. Keywords: Earnings Management, Corporate Governance, Corporate Governance Index.

Exploring the potentials of clawbacks to check earnings management practices and enhance financial reporting quality: perceptions from the UAE

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kahkashan Mahmood ◽  
Yasser Barghathi ◽  
Alhashmi Aboubaker Lasyoud
Keyword(s):  
Earnings Management ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Reporting Quality ◽  
Financial Reporting Quality ◽  
Firm Level ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Set Up ◽  
The Impact

Purpose For investors to wholeheartedly entrust their finances to the supposed executives, there is the need to set up policies to checkmate the excesses of such executives, hence clawback policy. This study aims to explore the perceptions of professionals regarding the impact of clawback provisions on earnings management (EM) and financial reporting quality in the context of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Design/methodology/approach The application of a qualitative approach in an EM is of great significance in this study. For convenience, perceptions of the professionals were collected through semi-structured face-to-face interviews, internet forums and telephone conversations from which the data were initially transcribed and analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings The findings of the study indicate that clawbacks will have a significant impact on EM and financial reporting quality, and apart from this, other firm-level factors have also been supporting clawbacks. Practical implications EM has been a widespread practice; this research may potentially assist directors and regulatory bodies to comprehend factors that should be considered to reduce it. It may also provide practical insights from professionals regarding clawbacks and their bearing on EM and the quality of financial information from an emerging economy perspective. Originality/value A significant gap in the contemporary literature regarding the impact of clawback provisions on EM and financial reporting quality has been filed by this work, in the context of the UAE economy. Consequently, it provides a great insight into the effect of clawback in a business setting and how it can help checkmate the excesses of company executives.

The Impact of IFRS adoption and AQ upon Earnings Management in Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul): تأثير تطبيق المعايير الدولية لإعداد التقارير المالية وجودة المراجعة على إدارة الأرباح للشركات المدرجة في السوق المالية السعودية (تداول)

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (15) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maha Nasser Allehaidan
Keyword(s):  
Earnings Management ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Audit Quality ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Listed Firms ◽  
Discretionary Accrual ◽  
Financial Reporting Standards ◽  
Ifrs Adoption ◽  
The Impact

The main purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) adoption and Audit Quality (AQ) on Earnings Management (EM) practices in Saudi Arabia listed firms. EM is measured by the discretionary accrual using Healy (1985) and Kothari, Leone, and Wasley (2005) models. The research sample contains 16 Saudi listed firms during the period from 2014 to 2019. Statistical analysis including t-test and linear regression were used to test the research hypotheses. The investigation indicates that there is a negative relationship between IFRS adoption and EM practices, especially if it is combined with AQ, while it found a positive relationship between firms’ size and accrual EM, and no significant impact of AQ on firms’ debt ratio and EM practices. The importance of these results lies in providing clear evidence that the adoption of IFRS in developing countries has helped reduce earnings manipulation practices, which contributes to gaining confidence in Saudi firms and thus attracting many foreign investments.

scholarly journals The impact of corporate governance mechanisms on real and accrual earnings management practices: evidence from Jordan

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 1167-1186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lara Al-Haddad ◽  
Mark Whittington
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Earnings Management ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Reporting Quality ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Public Firms ◽  
Corporate Governance Mechanisms ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the impact of corporate governance (CG) mechanisms on real (REM), accrual-based earnings management (AEM) and REM/AEM interaction in Jordan following the 2009 Jordanian CG Code (JCGC). Design/methodology/approach The study used a sample of 108 Jordanian public firms covering 2010-2014. Hypotheses are tested using pooled OLS-regression models. Findings The authors find that both institutional and managerial ownership constrain the use of REM and AEM. In contrast, both independent directors and large shareholders are found to exaggerate such practices, and CEO-duality is found to exaggerate REM only. However, foreign ownership does not appear to have a significant impact. They further find that managers use REM and AEM jointly to obtain the greatest earnings impact. Practical implications The findings have important implications for policymakers, regulators, audit professionals and investors in their attempts to constrain earnings management (EM) practices and improve financial reporting quality in Jordan. Originality/value The authors believe this to be the first Jordanian study examining the relationship between CG mechanisms and both REM and AEM following the introduction of the 2009 JCGC, as well as the first in Jordan and the Middle East to examine board characteristics and REM. Moreover, it is the first to test for the potential substitution of REM and AEM since the 2009 JCGC enactment. As such, the findings draw attention to EM practices and the role of monitoring mechanisms in Jordan.

scholarly journals The Impact of the Financial Stability on the Earnings Management Practices

2021 ◽  
Vol 129 ◽  
pp. 03028
Author(s):  
Anna Siekelova
Keyword(s):  
Earnings Management ◽  
Significant Relationship ◽  
Financial Stability ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Explanatory Power ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Academic Community ◽  
Financial Reports ◽  
The Impact

Research background: In recent years, the world economy has changed. Earnings management, as a modern phenomenon, plays an important role within the financial world under the condition of globalization. The academic community deals with the issue of the informative value of the reported financial results. The informative value of these results becomes questionable when we realize that managers have not only the motivation but also the ability to use the earnings management techniques to influence these results. Purpose of the article: The aim of the contribution is earnings management detection by using a model with the highest explanatory power, as well as verifying hypotheses about the existence of a statistically significant relationship between earnings management practices and financial stability within a sample of companies. Methods: Based on the results of the explanatory power examination, the modified Jones model is recommended for earnings management detection within the sample of V4 companies. Data were obtained from the Amadeus database. The sample contains 1,480 financial reports of companies from 2019 to 2017. Research is focused on V4 companies that have the sum of total assets higher than 2,000,000 EUR, as well as the sum of operating revenue is higher than 100,000 EUR. Also, the Pearson correlation coefficient was used to test the hypotheses about the existing statistically significant relationship between financial stability and earnings management practices. Findings & Value added: The article provides an overview of the earnings management issue within V4 countries. It examines the earnings management practices and the impact of financial stability on the level and direction of earnings management practices.

scholarly journals The Effect of Both Earnings Management and Tax Planning To The Value of The Company With Corporate Governance As Variable Moderating

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (01) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Nia Suryani ◽  
Djuminah Djuminah
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Earnings Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Tax Planning ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Regression Coefficients ◽  
P Value ◽  
Discretionary Accrual ◽  
The Impact

<p>The primary objective of this study is to determine the impact of both earnings management and tax planning towards the value of the firm, corporate governance is measured by using score CGPI as moderating variable. This study uses purposive sampling method that generates 40 samples of company listings on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) and registered in participation Corporate Governance Perception Index (CGPI) during 2012 until 2015.</p><p><br />Based on the test result of regression analysis it showed that earnings management practices which is measured by using discretionary accrual shows regression coefficients of 2,557 with p-value of 0,015 or p-value is below 0,05, so it has negative impact to the value of the firm, then it can be concluded that the existence of earnings management can reduce the value of the firm. Tax planning activity is measured by using Cash_ETR which shows regression coefficients -0.956 with a p-value of 0,005 or p-value is below 0,05, which means it gives a negative impact to the value of the firm, so it can be concluded that the higher level of tax planning by management will have an impact on the declining value of the firm. Furthermore, corporate governance which is measured using the CGPI’s score is not a moderating variable between earnings management and value of the firm, showed by p-value of 0,090, whereas the relationships of tax planning and value of the firm can be moderated by corporate governance, showed by p-value of 0,024.</p><p><br />Keywords: CGPI’s Score, Corporate Governance, Discretionary Accrual, Earnings Management, Tax Planning, Value of the Firm</p>

scholarly journals The Impact of Financial Crisis on Earnings Management in Nonfinancial Listed Firms: Evidence from Jordan

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 168
Author(s):  
Yahia M. Al-Mughrabi
Keyword(s):  
Financial Crisis ◽  
Earnings Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Global Financial Crisis ◽  
Discretionary Accruals ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Least Squares Regression ◽  
Listed Firms ◽  
Jones Model ◽  
The Impact

This paper studies earnings management in Jordan during the global financial crisis. It addresses mainly the question of whether or not financial crisis has an impact on discretionary accruals, using the modified Jones model (1995) for estimating discretionary accruals. By applying Ordinary Least Squares regression model on a sample of 71 nonfinancial listed firms during the period of 2005-2012, I find a conclusive evidence that Jordanian nonfinancial listed firms did not engage in a greater level of earnings management during the financial crisis period. In addition, larger firms are less involved in earnings management practices compared to smaller firms. Moreover, the results suggest a negative significant impact of operating cash flow on discretionary accruals, while it fails to connect current year losses with discretionary accruals. However, the findings indicate that firm&rsquo;s leverage is positively and significantly associated with discretionary accruals. Overall, the empirical results provided evidence that earnings management practices in Jordanian nonfinancial sectors are relatively small, even smaller in services sector, which raise questions about the validity of the modified Jones model and whether or not different models (such as Deangelo, 1986) should be used in future studies regarding earnings management.

Earnings Management and Mergers and Acquisitions

2019 ◽  
pp. 77-100
Author(s):  
Raffaela Casciello ◽  
Adele Caldarelli ◽  
Marco Maffei
Keyword(s):  
Mergers And Acquisitions ◽  
Earnings Management ◽  
Financial Market ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Market Competition ◽  
Listed Companies ◽  
Discretionary Accruals ◽  
Financial Reports ◽  
Business Combinations ◽  
Discretionary Accrual

This chapter investigates whether Italian-listed companies involved in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) during the period 2009–2017 manipulated earnings through recourse to discretionary accruals in response to financial market competition. Interest in the possible effects of competition on earnings management practices follows the considerable attention attracted by the effects of business combinations on disclosure quality and reliability. M&A represents an opportunity for managers to manipulate financial reports and to deliver misleading market information in order to enhance company reputation and attract funds from investors. This empirical analysis demonstrates that Italian-listed companies involved in M&A used goodwill as a discretionary accrual for managing earnings. The findings indicate that the increasing level of financial market competition between Italian-listed companies prompted major recourse to earnings management practices based on discretionary accruals.

scholarly journals The Impact of Deferred Tax Assets, Discretionary Accrual, Leverage, Company Size and Tax Planning Onearnings Management Practices

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 22
Author(s):  
Jacobus Widiatmoko ◽  
Ika Mayangsari
Keyword(s):  
Earnings Management ◽  
Capital Market ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Tax Planning ◽  
Company Size ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Purposive Sampling ◽  
Discretionary Accrual ◽  
Deferred Tax ◽  
The Impact

<p>The purpose of this study is to analyze and provide empirical evidence of the influence of deferred tax asset, discretionary accrual, leverage, company size, and tax planning on earnings management. Financial performance is an indicator that is required by company management to measure the effectiveness of company performance. This research used secondary data that was got from annual report published in www.idx.co.id and data from Indonesian Capital Market Directory (ICMD). Populations of the research are manufacturing companies listed on Indonesia Stock Exchange from 2011-2013. Samples were selected by using purposive sampling method. There are 208 observations that will examined by logistic regression analysis. The result shows that deferred tax asset has negative and not significant effect to the earnings management, discretionary accrual has negative and not significant effect to the earnings management, leverage has negative and significant effect to the earnings management, company size has positive and significant effect to the earnings management, tax planning has positive and not significant effect to the earnings management.</p><p>Tujuan penelitian ini menganalisis bukti empiris mengenai pengaruh asset pajak tangguhan, discretionary accrual, leverage, ukuran perusahaan, dan perencanaan pajak terhadap manajemen laba. Kinerja keuangan adalah indikator untuk mengukur efektivitas perusahaan. Penelitian ini menggunakan data sekunder yang diperoleh dari www.idx.co.id serta data dari Indonesian Capital Market Directory (ICMD). Populasi penelitian ini adalah perusahaan manufaktur yang terdaftar di BEI tahun 2011-2013. Sampel dipilih dengan purposive sampling. Terdapat 208 observasi yang akan diuji dengan model analisis regresi logistik. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa asset pajak tangguhan memiliki pengaruh negatif dan tidak signifikan terhadap praktik manajemen laba, discretionary accrual memiliki pengaruh negatif dan tidak signifikan terhadap praktik manajemen laba, leverage memiliki pengaruh negatif dan signifikan terhadap praktik manajemen laba, ukuran perusahaan memiliki pengaruh positif dan signifikan terhadap praktik manajemen laba, perencanaan pajak memiliki pengaruh positif dan tidak signifikan terhadap praktik manajemen laba.</p><p>JEL Classification: G3, G32</p>

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