scholarly journals The Impact of Financial Statement Comparability on Earnings Management: Evidence from Frontier Markets

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 73
Author(s):  
Wil Martens ◽  
Prem W. S. Yapa ◽  
Maryam Safari
Keyword(s):  
Earnings Management ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Common Law ◽  
Accounting Standards ◽  
Real Earnings Management ◽  
Financial Statement ◽  
Financial Reporting Standards ◽  
Developed Markets ◽  
Accounting Comparability ◽  
The Impact

This paper examined whether financial statement comparability constrains opportunistic earnings management in frontier market countries. Using a large sample of 19 frontier market countries, and an accounting comparability method that maps comparability across several accounting standards, the results show that enhanced financial comparability constrains accruals earnings management (AEM). Contrary to developed markets and novel to this study, a significant relationship between financial comparability and real earnings management (REM) was not found. For greater robustness, AEM and REM were also tested on both International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) adopting and non-adopting countries. The results suggest IFRS adoption constrains AEM, yet exhibited no impact on constraining REM. Additionally, the use of BigN auditors failed to conclusively show an ability to moderate EM. When combined, the results suggest that frontier markets engage in less REM than expected. It is also noted that the legal roots (civil vs. common law) play a significant role in constraining earnings management. Common law countries exhibited lower AEM when comparability increased; this significance was not found in countries that were rooted in civil law. Contributions from this study show that findings from developed markets cannot be generalised to frontier markets.

scholarly journals The impact of IFRS-based accounting standards on earnings management: evidence from Malaysia

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Yosra Makni Fourati ◽  
Rania Chakroun Ghorbel
Keyword(s):  
Earnings Management ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Accounting Standards ◽  
Absolute Value ◽  
Financial Reporting Standards ◽  
Ifrs Adoption ◽  
Earning Quality ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Different Levels

This study aims to examine the consequences of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) convergence in an emerging market. More specifically, we investigate whether the adoption of the new set of accounting standards in Malaysia is associated with lower earnings management. Using a sample of 3,340 firm-year observations across three reporting periods with different levels of IFRS adoption, we provide evidence that IFRS convergence improves earning quality. In particular, we find a significant decrease in the absolute value of discretionary acccruals in the partial IFRS-convergence period (2007-2011), whereas this effect is restrictive after the complete IFRS- implementation.

International Financial Reporting Standards and Real Earnings Management

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 281-292
Author(s):  
Ooi Chee Keong ◽  
Shafi Mohamad ◽  
Syed Ehsanullah
Keyword(s):  
Earnings Management ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Real Earnings Management ◽  
International Financial Reporting Standards ◽  
Reporting Standards ◽  
Financial Reporting Standards ◽  
Industrial Sectors ◽  
The Impact

We have attempted to investigate the impact of adopting the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) on real earnings management (REM) in this study, along with a thorough examination to determine the relationship between IFRS and REM. The study is primarily based on 178 listed firms from different industrial sectors in Malaysia, wherein IFRS had finally been implemented in 2008. For more adequate estimations and requisite results, we have included data of eight years i.e., 4 years before the implementation of IFRS and 4 years after its implementation, in our sample. Our results showed positive association between IFRS and REM, accordingly, precisely suggesting that after the implementation of IFRS, these firms were found to be engaged more in less detectable REM, and also exhibiting quite a poor financial reporting quality apparently below international standards.

The impact of principles-based vs rules-based accounting standards on reporting quality and earnings management

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dennis Sundvik
Keyword(s):  
Earnings Management ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Accounting Standards ◽  
Reporting Quality ◽  
Absolute Magnitude ◽  
Cash Flows ◽  
Real Earnings Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Analytical Work ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore whether principles-based vs rules-based accounting standards have an effect on measures of financial reporting quality and earnings management strategies. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a firm-year-specific variable that captures the extent to which firms’ accounting and operating behavior is affected by the characteristics of a specific standard in the USA. Measures of absolute accruals, financial misconducts, signed abnormal accruals and abnormal cash flows are used to assess the effects. Findings The results show that absolute magnitude of accruals and probability of financial misconduct is lower, and accrual earnings management is higher when firms’ standards are more based on principles. The study also suggests that potentially costlier real earnings management is a consequence of rules-based standards. Research limitations/implications This study relies heavily on measures from the prior accounting literature, hence, care has been exercised in generalizing the findings. Practical implications This study has direct implications for a number of stakeholders, including standard setters, policymakers, securities regulators, researchers, investors, financial statement preparers and auditors. For example, the future development of accounting standards can be supported by the empirical conclusions in this study together with previous standard-setting ambitions, commentaries, experiments and analytical work. Originality/value This study extends prior single-country studies on reporting quality and cross-country studies on transition effects of firms switching from local to International Accounting Standards by observing the impact of accounting standard characteristics on additional measures of reporting quality and accrual as well as real earnings management when holding institutional factors constant. The study also offers archival evidence complementing prior commentaries, experiments and analytical work.

scholarly journals Impact of Changes in Accounting Standards on Earnings Management

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 166-175
Author(s):  
Kawa W. Muhamad ◽  
Subhi M. Saleh ◽  
Kees van Paridon
Keyword(s):  
Earnings Management ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Accounting Standards ◽  
Reporting Quality ◽  
Quality Standards ◽  
Financial Reporting Quality ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ◽  
Financial Reporting Standards ◽  
Accounting Principles

This study considers the question whether the changes in Accounting Standards has led to companies making less use of earnings management. The paper is an attempt to investigate whether the application of high quality standards like International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) is related to high financial reporting quality. This study addresses this issue empirically. Furthermore, this research examines whether German companies that have applied IFRS have less earnings management compared to German companies that report according to the German Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GGAAP). The sample, consisting of two equally large listed companies in Germany (Südzucker Group and Henkel Group) from 2003-2014. The study suggests that IFRS-adopters show different earnings management performance compared to companies reporting under German GAAP. This finding contributes to the discussion on whether high quality standards are appropriate and operational in countries with weak investor protection rights. The result shows that adopters of IFRS in Germany can be related with less use of earnings management as a result of changes in accounting standards. This result is contradictory with previous research that was done by Van Tendeloo and Vanstraelen, (2005), and consistent with the previous research conducted by Ball et al. (2003).

How Does Local Adoption of IFRS for Those Countries That Modified IFRS by Design, Impair Comparability with Countries That Have Not Adapted IFRS?

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 59-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Felski
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Accounting Standards ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Financial Statement ◽  
International Accounting Standards ◽  
Reporting Standards ◽  
Financial Reporting Standards ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Reporting Environment ◽  
Proper Translation

ABSTRACT Global adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) is thought to increase financial statement reliability and comparability. Although IFRS is required or allowed in over 130 nations, some countries modify IFRS as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). This study is designed to closely examine each country that modifies IFRS in an effort to determine whether these modifications impair financial statement comparability. First is that countries lack the resources to implement the newest version of IFRS or ensure proper translation of the standards. Second is that countries make specific changes to allow IFRS to better meet the needs of their financial reporting environment. I categorize the first set of countries as default countries and the second set as design countries. The study results in several interesting and useful contributions. First, I develop a new typology for future IFRS research that includes not only the locally adopted category, but also the default and design categories. Second, the details of how countries modify IFRS make it clear that differences can exist in financial statements prepared in different countries both using IFRS. The users must be careful to understand how comparability may be impacted by these modifications.

The Effect of Real Earnings Management on Auditor Scrutiny of Management's Other Financial Reporting Decisions

2018 ◽  
Vol 93 (5) ◽  
pp. 145-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin P. Commerford ◽  
Richard C. Hatfield ◽  
Richard W. Houston
Keyword(s):  
Earnings Management ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Real Earnings Management ◽  
Financial Statement ◽  
Mediation Model ◽  
Reporting Decisions ◽  
Regulatory Scrutiny ◽  
Serial Mediation ◽  
Subjective Estimates ◽  
Inference Theory

ABSTRACT Recent research reveals that accruals-based earnings management (AEM) is decreasing while real earnings management (REM) is increasing, suggesting the correlation is due to regulatory scrutiny. However, based on Correspondent Inference Theory, we predict and find that when management uses REM, auditors are more restrictive of management's subjective estimates, making it more difficult for management to use income-increasing AEM. Our experiment manipulates the presence versus absence of REM, and whether the audit difference potentially impacts the client's ability to meet an earnings target. Using a serial mediation model, we find that when auditors observe REM, they perceive these operating decisions as aggressive, leading them to perceive management as aggressive, ultimately causing greater proposed adjustments on an unrelated audit difference. We contribute to the literature by demonstrating that when auditors observe REM, their altered perceptions about management can cascade, affecting how they respond to management estimates in unrelated financial statement accounts.

The Impact of Mandatory IFRS Adoption on Accounting Quality: Evidence from Australia

2012 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 119-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Lin Chua ◽  
Chee Seng Cheong ◽  
Graeme Gould
Keyword(s):  
Earnings Management ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Value Relevance ◽  
Accounting Quality ◽  
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ◽  
Financial Reporting Standards ◽  
Financial Firms ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Mandatory Adoption ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACT Following the mandatory implementation of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in Australia as of January 1, 2005, this study examines its impact on accounting quality by focusing on three perspectives: (1) earnings management, (2) timely loss recognition, and (3) value relevance. Using four years of adoption experience since the mandate was first made effective in Australia for a wide range of accounting-based metrics and market-based information, we find that the mandatory adoption of IFRS has resulted in better accounting quality than previously under Australian generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). In particular, the findings indicate that the pervasiveness of earnings management by way of smoothing has reduced, while the timeliness of loss recognition has improved post-adoption. Additionally, the value relevance of financial statement information has improved, especially for non-financial firms. This is despite the fact that there is evidence to suggest that financial firms are engaged in managing earnings toward a small positive target after the mandatory adoption of IFRS in Australia.

scholarly journals The Impact of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) on Accounting Quality in Malaysia

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-104
Author(s):  
Ooi Chee Keong ◽  
Lee Siew Pengb ◽  
Lim Wan Lengc
Keyword(s):  
Earnings Management ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Stock Exchange ◽  
Accounting Quality ◽  
Kuala Lumpur ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Quality Reporting ◽  
Financial Reporting Standards ◽  
Ifrs Adoption ◽  
The Impact

There are two objectives of this study, first,it is to examine and compare the accounting quality in pre-and post-implementations IFRS from the viewpoint of investors. Second ,is to identify the differences in the accounting quality between the shariah compliant and non-shariah compliant companies in pre-and post-implementations of IFRS. Using  2169 firm-year observations from firms listed on the Bursa Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange over the period of 2008  to 2016, the result shows that the implementation of MFRS have reduced the firms’ earnings management. However, this study provides new arguments that Shariah-complaints firms in Malaysia do not necessary have greater incentives to report high-quality reporting based on the investor perspectives.  Our evidence thus help to explains the different impact on IFRS adoption on accounting quality in Malaysia and shariah complaint compnaies.

Long-Lived Asset Impairments in the Shipping Industry and the Impact on Financial Statement Ratios: Comparing U.S. GAAP and IFRS Standards

2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 76 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Penner ◽  
Jerry Kreuze ◽  
Sheldon Langsam
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Financial Statement ◽  
Shipping Industry ◽  
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ◽  
Financial Reporting Standards ◽  
Asset Impairment ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Asset Impairments ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Us Gaap

In this paper, we investigate asset impairment standards particularly as they relate to differences between United States generally accepted accounting principles (US GAAP) and international financial reporting standards (IFRS) for the impairment of long-lived assets in the shipping industry and the corresponding impact on financial statement analysis ratios.  Our study provides evidence that return on assets and asset turnover ratios diverge significantly as a result of the difference between US GAAP and IFRS on asset impairments within the shipping industry.  Reporting differences between US GAAP and IFRS can impede the comparability of financial reporting.  Asset impairment accounting differences can have significant differences for companies reporting under these two accounting standards.

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