scholarly journals Standard Jones and Modified Jones: An Earnings Management Tutorial

Author(s):  
Cristiano Machado Costa ◽  
José Mauro Madeiros Velôso Soares

ABSTRACT Context: measurement of earnings management usually requires multi-step models for computation. After examining the literature through bibliometrics studies, literature review, and research databases, we found that the Standard Jones model and its subsequent modifications are those that have more prominent use. Much of this research is potentially interesting for business theories related to earnings quality and accounting manipulation; however, it is difficult to be understood by junior researchers and practitioners, because they are not clearly described in the literature or the steps may be easy to confuse. Objective: in this tutorial, we present several key concepts about earnings management and explain, step by step, how to measure it. Method: our tutorial considers measurement using the following models: Standard Jones, Modified Jones, Modified Jones with return on assets (ROA), and Modified Jones using Cash Flows and Accruals Reversals. Conclusions: our main contribution with this tutorial is to provide a step-by-step guide for future studies, so that they can be more comparable with each other when using measurement methods of earnings management.

2015 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 79-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdullah Muhammad Iqbal ◽  
Iram Khan ◽  
Zeeshan Ahmed

This study examines the incidence of earnings management around the time of the privatisation of State Owned Enterprises in Pakistan during 1991-2005. Using the modified Jones model and a sample of large privatisations (minimum US$1 million), it shows that the sampled firms experienced increase in earnings, decrease in cash flows, and increase in current discretionary accruals in the year prior to and/or in the year of privatisation. The SOEs used both short term and long term accruals to inflate reported earnings. These accruals were reversed in the post-privatisation period. These findings suggest that managers of the firms slated for privatisation were engaged in earnings management to inflate their firms‘ financial worth to maximise the privatisation proceeds. Hence, we cannot reject the incidence of earnings management during privatisations in Pakistan. The results imply that the investors should carefully evaluate the to-be-privatised firms and keep in view the possibility of earnings management by the SOEs. JEL Classification: G14, G34, G38, L33, M41 Keywords: Earnings Management, Privatisations, SOEs, Pakistan, Accruals


2021 ◽  
Vol 92 ◽  
pp. 02011
Author(s):  
Juraj Cug ◽  
Aneta Cugova

Research background: Earnings management is a versatile phenomenon in firms’ financial reporting and It´s purpose is to demonstrate reasonable earnings quality. Thus, earnings management has much in common with earnings quality. Purpose of the article: This paper reviews earnings management and earnings quality in an information economics framework. We focus on earnings quality determinants, impact of earnings quality and the outcomes of earnings quality for companies. Methods: Basic scientific methods of analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction and abstraction were used to meet the stated goal. Findings & Value added: In general, earnings of high quality are those that have a high level of persistence, are more predictable, more timely, less volatile and have lower level of earnings management. Earnings management has a negative impact on the quality of earnings if it distorts the information in a way that is less useful for forecasting future cash flows.


2002 ◽  
Vol 77 (s-1) ◽  
pp. 61-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maureen F. McNichols

Dechow and Dichev (2002) model earnings quality as the magnitude of estimation errors in accruals, and provide empirical estimates of this construct based on the relation between accruals and cash flows. I characterize the innovation and limitations in this approach, and provide empirical evidence of measurement error in their empirical specification. I also adapt their model to assess the specification of the Jones' (1991) model and document that this model provides estimates of discretionary accruals that are significantly associated with cash flows, which are likely to be substantially nondiscretionary. I conclude with suggestions for future research on earnings quality and earnings management.


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 50
Author(s):  
Aditi Shams

The purpose of this paper is twofold, first, it examines the association of non-executive chairman and the quality of financial earnings and second, it examines the role of audit quality and non-executive chairman in earnings quality. This paper uses the modified jones model and the performance adjusted modified Jones model considering two cash flow methods of total accrual and perform regression analysis on the energy sector firms from the year 2010-2012. The study result does not find any significant association of earnings management and non-executive director and audit quality in the Australian context. This finding raises concerns regarding the effectiveness of such a corporate governance mechanism to maximize monitoring over the operation of the firm.


2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 491-509 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ye Liu ◽  
Changjiang Lyu

Purpose The performance of the first batch of listed companies since the restart of new initial public offerings (IPOs) in January 2014 and their accounting information face repeated and volatile questioning from different sides. This paper aims to take Guirenniao (China) Co. Ltd. (GRN for short), one of the first batch of listed companies in 2014 that suffered performance decline, as an example to analyze how it managed earnings before IPO. Design/methodology/approach This paper examines earnings management signs that exist in GRN through analysis of its financial statements compared to those of its industry peers. This paper then uses the modified Jones model to detect its accrual earnings management and build three models, which are abnormal levels of cash flows from operations, abnormal production costs and abnormal discretionary expenses, to detect real earnings management. Findings This paper finds that GRN managed earnings through accrual and real activities in 2012 and 2013. Finally, this paper provides evidence on the specific methods of earnings management, which are easing credit policy to recognize revenue in advance, abnormal expansion, decreasing costs and connected transactions. Originality/value This paper examines earnings management signs exist in GRN through analysis of its financial statements comparing to those of its industry peers. This paper then uses the modified Jones Model to detect its accrual earnings management and build three models which are abnormal levels of cash flows from operations, abnormal production costs and abnormal discretionary expenses to detect real earnings management.


2021 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 195-210
Author(s):  
Ervin Denich

The aim of this study is twofold: the first goal is to systemise and summarise the models designed to measure the quality of financial statements, as these reports can form the basis of decision-making for the users. The second goal is to analyse the financial statements prepared by manufacturing companies acting in Baranya Country, from a quality perspective, applying the DeAngelo (1986) model and the modified Jones model (1995). Earnings quality is measured by the change in total accruals divided by total assets, considering a 4-years period of time between 2016 and 2019. Calculating the T-statistic, the amount of total accruals is a negative figure in the covered period. Consequently, it might suggest that managers make some decisions, which have a decreasing impact on earnings level of a company. Although the results of this study show some evidence of earnings management, further investigation is required in order to provide a more confident conclusion.


Author(s):  
Fatmah Mohammad Baaqeel, Najla Ibrahim Abdulrahman

The aim of this research is to analyze the relationship between earnings quality and financial ratios derived from cash flows statement of telecom sector companies in the Saudi Stock Market. The analyzing period was from 2009 to 2018, assuming there is a significant relationship between operating cash ratio, operational activity index, adequacy cash flow and return on assets from operating cash flow on earnings quality. Calculating ratios and earnings quality through published financial statements and reports to find the relationship between the variables using multiple regression model. Findings indicate no relationship between earnings quality and both operating cash ratio and the operational activity index, and there is a direct relationship between earnings quality and adequacy cash flow, and an inverse relationship between earnings quality and return on assets from the operating cash flow. The researcher recommends decision-makers to pay more attention to the ratios related to the earnings quality, and do more research related to the subject.


Author(s):  
Paulina Sutrisno

Objective - The purpose of this research is to examine the consequences of accrual based earnings management and real earnings management on future operating performance.The firms studied engage in accrual-based earnings management with discretionary accrual measures using the modified Jones model and some of the following real earnings management activities: (1) Sales manipulation that accelerates the timing of sales through increased price discounts or cutting prices to boost sales in the current period; and/or (2) cutting of discretionary expenditures to increase income in the current period. Furthermore, the study examines the extent to which discretionary accrual and real earnings management affects subsequent operating performance (as measured by both return on assets and operating cash flows). Methodology/Technique - The sample manufacturing firms that engage in financial statement were listed on the Indonesian Stock Exchange between 2012 and 2014. The hypothesis testing method used in this research is multiple regression linear. Findings - The results suggest that accrual-based earnings management, with discretionary accrual measures, and real earnings management through sales manipulation and discretionary expenditures are positively associated with return on assets after one and two years. Meanwhile, accrual-based earnings management and real earnings management through sales manipulation enhances subsequent operating cash flows. However, real earnings management through discretionary expenditures does not influence operating cash flows. Novelty - This research contributes to the existing literature on the subsequent impact of accrual-based earnings management and real earnings management Type of Paper: Empirical Keywords: Discretionary Accrual; Sales Manipulation; Discretionary Expenditure; Return on Assets; Operating Cash Flows JEL Classification: M21, M41.


2021 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 190-200
Author(s):  
Bilal Kimouche

Abstract The persistence and predictive ability are extensively requested as desirable attributes of earnings quality in the literature. The paper aims at investigating the persistence and predictive ability of earnings in French and UK companies. The study included a panel data of 1035 firm-year observations for 115 French listed companies from the CAC All-Tradable and 900 firm-year observations for 100 UK listed companies from the FTSE All-Share, during the period of 2011–2019. The research design was based on two equations starting from Sloan (1996) that were estimated using Fixed Effects Method. The study showed that earnings were persistent but they had no predictive ability regarding the future cash flows whether in French or UK companies and that earnings of UK companies were more persistent than those of the French companies. We argue that the persistence of earnings and the inability to predict future cash flows can be evidence of earnings management. The study contributes to the literature about earnings quality by studying earnings persistence and earnings predictive ability together in two different environments. The results require that users must take into consideration the illusory persistence of earnings, auditors must be cautious regarding the manipulation of earnings by managers, and accounting standard setters must review the reporting guidelines of cash flows to enhance their predictability by earnings.


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