scholarly journals Goodwill And Goodwill Write-Downs: Their Effects On Earnings Quality For 2008 And 2009

2011 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Don E. Giacomino ◽  
Michael D. Akers
Keyword(s):  
Earnings Management ◽  
Earnings Quality ◽  
Pension Plan ◽  
Expected Returns ◽  
Balance Sheets ◽  
Big Bath

This paper examines goodwill on corporate balance sheets.  Specifically, the paper measures the extent to which goodwill exists on corporate balance sheets and the degree of goodwill write-downs that have occurred recently.   We report on our study and a study by Intangible Business, which show that many firms carry substantial amounts of goodwill on their 2008 balance sheets.  Thus, because of the recent downturn in the economy and the markets, the potential for big bath earnings management for 2008 and 2009 exists.   In addition, because of reductions in expected returns on pension plan assets, many firms are likely to record much higher pension expenses.   We expect that the combination of goodwill impairments and increased pension expense will have significant effects on both the amount and the quality of earnings for 2008 and, possibly, 2009.

scholarly journals Heterogeneity in earnings quality between different classes of companies after IFRS adoption: evidence from Brazil

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (73) ◽  
pp. 113-131
Author(s):  
Roberto Black ◽  
Sílvio Hiroshi Nakao
Keyword(s):  
Earnings Management ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Value Relevance ◽  
Earnings Quality ◽  
Economic Incentives ◽  
Net Income ◽  
Accounting Earnings ◽  
Ifrs Adoption ◽  
Before And After

ABSTRACT This paper aims to investigate the existence of heterogeneity in earnings quality between different classes of companies after the adoption of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). IFRS adoption is generally associated with an increase in the quality of financial statements. However, companies within the same country are likely to have different economic incentives regarding the disclosure of information. Thus, treating companies equally, without considering the related economic incentives, could contaminate earnings quality investigations. The case of Brazil is analyzed, which is a country classified as code-law, in which tax laws determined accounting practice and in which IFRS adoption is mandatory. First, Brazilian companies listed on the São Paulo Stock, Commodities, and Futures Exchange (BM&FBOVESPA) were separated into two classes: companies issuing American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) before IFRS adoption and companies that did not issue ADRs until the adoption of IFRS. Then, this second class of companies was grouped, using cluster analysis, into two different subclasses according to economic incentives. Based on the groups identified, the quality of accounting earnings is tested for each class of the companies before and after IFRS adoption. This paper uses timely recognition of economic events, value relevance of net income, and earnings management as proxies for the quality of accounting earnings. The results indicate that a particular class of companies began showing conditional conservatism, value relevance of net income, and lower earnings management after IFRS adoption. On the other hand, these results were not found for the two other classes of companies.

The impact of the global economic crisis of 2008 on earnings quality in Mexico

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 407-421
Author(s):  
Jose Miranda-Lopez ◽  
Ivan Valdovinos-Hernandez
Keyword(s):  
Earnings Management ◽  
Economic Crisis ◽  
Earnings Quality ◽  
Accounting Standards ◽  
Previous Literature ◽  
Income Smoothing ◽  
Accounting Quality ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Global Economic Crisis

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the earnings quality of companies listed on Mexico’s primary stock market, the Bolsa Mexicana de Valores (Bolsa) before and during the global economic crisis of 2008. Previous research has shown that these economic events can have potentially conflicting effects on the quality of earnings of listed companies in capital markets around the world. Design/methodology/approach This paper operationalizes earnings quality based on earnings management. Therefore, four constructs to proxy for earnings quality are developed from previous literature, and multiple regression analysis along with tests of differences across two time periods, 2005–2007 and 2008–2010, are used to determine if there is a significant change in the accounting quality of companies listed on the Bolsa before and after the start of the global economic crisis. Findings Results indicate a statistically significant decrease of earnings quality on three out of the four constructs used to proxy for earnings management. There is only one construct in this category that shows a significant increase of earnings quality. Research limitations/implications There are different number of constructs and methodologies used to test for earnings quality. This study draws on four different constructs on two dimensions of earnings quality from previous literature, but other methodologies and constructs can potentially be used as well, such as discretionary accruals. Furthermore, there is a chance that there can be confounding factors affecting the results of this study besides the effects of the global economic crisis. Finally, the sample used in this study comprises non-financial public companies listed on the Bolsa, which can affect the generalization of the results to countries other than Mexico. Practical implications The results of this study can be of interest to Mexican and foreign investors, standard setters and regulators of the Bolsa, as the results show a strong incentive to manage companies’ earnings using income smoothing in an emerging economy during an economic crisis even after converging to a higher-quality set of accounting standards. Results can also be of interests to investors and regulators in other Latin-American countries with economies similar to that of Mexico. Originality/value This is the first study to test the quality of earnings of Mexican companies before and during the global economic crisis of 2008. Thus, this study contributes to the accounting quality literature by offering evidence showing a significant increase of income smoothing during the global economic crisis for companies listed in a developing economy with a relevant history of economic crises, even when these companies were using recently converged, higher-quality accounting standards.

scholarly journals KUALITAS LABA ATAS INTENSITAS KECURANGAN AKUNTANSI DAN MANAJEMEN LABA AKRUAL TERHADAP AGRESIVITAS PAJAK

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-208
Author(s):  
Rahmat Irawan ◽  
Syahril Djaddang
Keyword(s):  
Earnings Management ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Audit Quality ◽  
Earnings Quality ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Accounting Fraud ◽  
Tax Aggressiveness ◽  
The Relationship

This study aims to examine the effect of accounting fraud intensity and accrual earnings management on tax aggressiveness and test earnings quality and audit quality on the accounting fraud intensity and accrual earnings management on tax aggressiveness. The testing method in this study uses multiple regression analysis. Through purposive sampling, the sample in this study amounted to 65. The data testing used structural equation model. The test results show that the intensity of accounting fraud affects tax aggressiveness, Accrual earnings management affects the tax aggressiveness, The quality of earnings strengthens the effect of accounting fraud and accrual earnings management on tax aggressiveness and Audit quality does not moderate the relationship between accounting fraud intensity and accrual earnings management with tax aggressiveness.

scholarly journals The effect of executive compensation on earnings quality of conglomerates listed in Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 6-18
Author(s):  
Abubakar Yayangida ◽  
◽  
Agbi Samuel ◽  
Joshua Okpanachi ◽  
Victor Atabo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Earnings Management ◽  
Executive Compensation ◽  
Key Words ◽  
Earnings Quality ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Listed Firms ◽  
Executive Incentives ◽  
Multiple Regression Technique ◽  
The Impact

This paper is an empirical analysis of the impact of Executive compensation on earnings quality of listed firms in Nigeria for the period of 2015-2019. The study adopts the multiple regression technique. Data were collected from the annual reports and accounts of sampled firms. The findings reveal that Executive compensation positively and significantly affect the earnings quality of listed Conglomerates in Nigeria, the result implies that firms that pay higher emoluments to its executive are likely to improve the quality of earnings. It is recommended that the listed Conglomerates firms should increase the amount paid as emoluments to their executives as the higher emolument paid and received by executives improve the level of earnings quality and reduces earnings management which may be detrimental to the goal and objectives of the firm. Key words: Compensation, Conglomerates, Executive, Incentives, Performance, Shareholders

Discussion of the Quality of Accruals and Earnings: The Role of Accrual Estimation Errors

2002 ◽  
Vol 77 (s-1) ◽  
pp. 61-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maureen F. McNichols
Keyword(s):  
Measurement Error ◽  
Earnings Management ◽  
Earnings Quality ◽  
Discretionary Accruals ◽  
Cash Flows ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Estimation Errors ◽  
Empirical Estimates

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.

Earnings Quality of Foreign versus U.S. Reverse Mergers: Geographical Location or Firm-Level Incentives?

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chu Chen ◽  
Giorgio Gotti ◽  
Don Herrmann ◽  
Kathryn Schumann
Keyword(s):  
Earnings Management ◽  
Audit Quality ◽  
Earnings Quality ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
Firm Level ◽  
Business Press ◽  
Reverse Mergers ◽  
Big 4 ◽  
Reverse Merger

ABSTRACT We test whether geographical location, audit quality, and equity offering play a role in the earnings quality of reverse merger (RM) firms. We provide evidence that, contrary to the popular focus on foreign reverse mergers by the business press, earnings management is equally likely in both U.S. and foreign RM companies. We find that firm characteristics are more indicative of the likelihood to manage earnings than geographical location. The presence of a Big 4 auditor for RM firms is associated with higher earnings quality and a survival rate almost twice as high in comparison to RM firms audited by a non-Big 4 auditor. Moreover, we find that while earnings management is a common practice at all RM firms, it is especially pervasive for RM firms that are issuing new equity after the reverse merger.

Did Japanese-SOX have an impact on earnings management and earnings quality?

2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (4/5) ◽  
pp. 482-510 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masumi Nakashima ◽  
David A. Ziebart
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Earnings Management ◽  
Reporting System ◽  
Earnings Quality ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Real Earnings Management ◽  
Material Weakness ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Accruals Management

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether Japanese Sarbanes – Oxley Act (J-SOX) impacted earnings management and earnings quality of public firms in Japan. Design/methodology/approach – This archival study compares earnings management and earnings quality of firms that disclose at least one material weakness with a sample matched on size and industry without a material weakness. Findings – The authors investigate whether the differences in regulations, corporate governance and regulatory environment acceptance influence earnings management and earnings management of Japanese listed firms, relative to findings in the USA. They found the Japanese results to be slightly different from the results found in previous USA studies. First, the time-series observations suggest that while accruals management and real earnings management remained unchanged for control firms, accruals management and real earnings management increased for material weaknesses disclosing firms following J-SOX. The regression analyses suggest that accruals management for both the groups is significant in the pre-and post-J-SOX periods, but that real earnings management declined for both the groups post-J-SOX. Second, while, both accruals quality and accuracy of cash flow predictions improved in the post-J-SOX period. Research limitations/implications – The sample of Japanese firms disclosing a material weakness is small because the number of firms that disclose internal control deficiencies is decreasing in Japan. The authors have no evidence that their results are not generalizable to a larger sample and leave this for future research. Practical implications – The authors provide evidence that J-SOX, which does not have a direct reporting system, does not constrain earnings management. Their results drive the regulator to reconsider whether the reporting system works in the Japanese business environment. Additionally, their results show that J-SOX has no effect on earnings management; thus, regulators need to reconsider the governance function of directors and internal auditors. This paper communicates to the world how J-SOX works in Japan through changes in earnings quality and management post J-SOX and the root problems. Originality/value – This paper is the first (of which the authors are aware) to examine whether J-SOX impacted both earnings management and earnings quality in Japan. This paper discusses how the differences in regulations and corporate governance as well as the differences between USA-SOX and J-SOX may explain the results observed in Japan. This paper provides results regarding whether J-SOX improved earnings quality.

The quality of reported numbers by the management

2014 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 355-376 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandeep Goel
Keyword(s):  
Private Sector ◽  
Earnings Management ◽  
Earnings Quality ◽  
Quality Measurement ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Profit Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Creative Accounting ◽  
Measurement Tools

Purpose – The present article aims to test the fairness of reported numbers by the management and examine the magnitude of earnings management in Indian corporate enterprises by testing the Beneish profit model. This paper contributes by further verifying the results of the Beneish model by applying the concept of “quality of earnings and revenue” to the sample units. Quality of reported numbers by the management has always been a concern for a common shareholder on account of the underlying proposition of earnings management. There are numerous models available to test the quality of these numbers, i.e. presence of earnings management. Most of these models are accrual based which have been subject to significant criticism due to estimate-based approach. The Beneish profit model, which combines accruals and financial ratios and/or indexes, is one such alternative to the accruals approach. Design/methodology/approach – A “case-based” research approach has been followed here for analyzing Indian corporate enterprises on select basis. The Beneish profit model, developed specifically for testing earnings quality and detecting earnings management, has been used in the present study. The data analysis has been well supported by “quality measurement tools”. Findings – An examination of the units shows the need for improvement in the quality of earnings in the sample units, and there is a presence of earnings management in them. Research limitations/implications – The present study could be confined to only top 12 profit-making corporate enterprises in the private sector in India, leaving all other enterprises due to data non-availability. Of 25 enterprises, there were public sector undertakings too which had to be excluded. Practical implications – The present study was confined to only 12 profit-making corporate enterprises in the private sector due to sampling requirements; the scope of the units can be extended to other units in diverse sectors with different size and scale of operations. It would further verify the present discussion and also provide future enlightenment on the issue of earnings management. Originality/value – It is an original article which explores creative accounting practices for better shareholders’ interest.

scholarly journals Impact of Macro and Micro Governance Structures on Earnings Management

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Muhammad Nurul Houqe
Keyword(s):  
Earnings Management ◽  
Earnings Quality ◽  
Discretionary Accruals ◽  
Institutional Setting ◽  
Strong Impact ◽  
Legal Enforcement ◽  
Micro Level ◽  
Reported Earnings ◽  
Macro Variables

<p><b>This study examines the macro and micro level determinants of the quality of reported earnings. The prior literature suggests that both micro and macro variables impact on discretionary accruals choice in managing earnings. However, most of the studies on earnings management have been single country studies that have focussed only on micro variables as all firms within the samples examined have been subject to the same interplay of macro economic, legal, cultural and institutional frameworks. This study addresses this gap in the literature by using a sample of 156,906 firm year observations from 63 countries over the period 1998-2007 to examine the role of thirteen micro and macro variables in determining earnings quality.</b></p> <p>The macro variables studied include legal enforcement, political system, and control of corruption, culture and adoption of IFRS. Earnings management is estimated using the modified Jones model (Dechow et al. 1995) in a cross section (DeFond and Jiambalvo 1994; Francis et al. 1998).</p> <p>The results of the study indicate that macro and micro level variables have a strong impact on earnings management behaviour and thus earnings quality. The limits imposed by a country's legal, cultural and institutional setting on managerial discretionary accruals choices, strongly impact the quality of reported earnings. Future research on earnings management should therefore control both micro and macro level variables.</p>

scholarly journals Impact of Macro and Micro Governance Structures on Earnings Management

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Muhammad Nurul Houqe
Keyword(s):  
Earnings Management ◽  
Earnings Quality ◽  
Discretionary Accruals ◽  
Institutional Setting ◽  
Strong Impact ◽  
Legal Enforcement ◽  
Micro Level ◽  
Reported Earnings ◽  
Macro Variables

<p>This study examines the macro and micro level determinants of the quality of reported earnings. The prior literature suggests that both micro and macro variables impact on discretionary accruals choice in managing earnings. However, most of the studies on earnings management have been single country studies that have focussed only on micro variables as all firms within the samples examined have been subject to the same interplay of macro economic, legal, cultural and institutional frameworks. This study addresses this gap in the literature by using a sample of 156,906 firm year observations from 63 countries over the period 1998-2007 to examine the role of thirteen micro and macro variables in determining earnings quality. The macro variables studied include legal enforcement, political system, and control of corruption, culture and adoption of IFRS. Earnings management is estimated using the modified Jones model (Dechow et al. 1995) in a cross section (DeFond and Jiambalvo 1994; Francis et al. 1998). The results of the study indicate that macro and micro level variables have a strong impact on earnings management behaviour and thus earnings quality. The limits imposed by a country's legal, cultural and institutional setting on managerial discretionary accruals choices, strongly impact the quality of reported earnings. Future research on earnings management should therefore control both micro and macro level variables.</p>

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