Selection of profit management strategy

The purpose of this study is to empirically prove the companies in the growth, mature, and stagnant stages use accrual earnings management, real earnings management, and classification shifting. The data used is secondary data obtained from the annual reports of manufacturing companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in the 2016-2020 period. The data analysis technique used multiple linear regression analysis. The sampling technique used was purposive sampling technique and obtained a sample of 53 manufacturing companies or the same as 265 observational data. Based on the results of the analysis, it was found that the company is in the growth mature and stagnant stage using the accrual earnings management strategy. The growth stage of the company does not use a real earnings management strategy, the mature and stagnant stage, the company uses a real earnings management strategy. Companies in the growth and mature stages do not use the classification shifting strategy.

Do Corporate Site Visits Constrain Real Earnings Management?

This study investigates the relationship between corporate site visits (CSVs) and firms’ real earnings management. Using a unique dataset of site visits to Chinese firms listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange from 2009 to 2016, we find that such visits are negatively associated with firms’ real earnings management. The results are robust to using alternative CSV measures, controlling for alternative communication channels, and using the propensity score matching method. In cross-sectional analyses, we find that the negative association between site visits and real earnings management is stronger for more complex firms and firms with greater information asymmetry. In addition, we find that CSVs are negatively associated with both management and corporate misconduct but not with accrual-based earnings management or restatements.

Real Earnings Management: Do the Experience and Gender of Big4 Auditors Matters?

Objective - This study examines whether the experience and gender of auditors in Big4 firm in relationship of deterring Real Earnings Management (REM).Different from the majority of previous studies, this study focuses on auditors in Big4 audit firms and real earnings management within Malaysian business environment. Big4 audit firms are associated with high quality audit because of the reputation to uphold, thus adopted stringent quality control and assurance approach, systems and procedures. Once adopted, the effect of individual characteristics may become less important. Thus, it is questionable whether individual characteristics such as auditor experience and gender could still have an influence on the outcomes of an audit, in this case, REM, when the audit firms are Big 4 (assuming very stringent quality control procedures are adopted). Methodology/Technique –This study substantiates prior literature and conducted tests only on companies audited by Big4 audit firms. We also find that auditor experiences confirms to Agency Theory where REM reduces when the experience increases. Data was obtained from the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM), DataStream and Bursa Malaysia. Findings - The result confirms prior literature that auditor experience is still an important factor that can limit REM, even in companies audited by the Big4 firms. The results however reveal that Big4 female auditors do not have any significant effect in reducing REM. Novelty -Although female auditors are claimed by Gender Socialization Theory, to have better moral judgments than male auditors, the result shows both genders are equal, at least in limiting REM. Type of Paper: Empirical. JEL Classification: M40; M41; M42 Keywords: Big4 Auditors; Auditor Experience; Real Earnings Management; Auditor Gender; Bursa Malaysia

The Effect of Board Characteristics on Real Activities Manipulation in Tunisian Banks

The succession of financial scandals and resounding bank failures that characterized the economic environment over the past three decades have given more weight to governance mechanisms. As such, considered to be one of the most important internal governance mechanisms, the board of directors has shown its strengths in controlling earnings manipulation, in particular those linked to real activities. The aim of this paper is to examine the effect of board characteristics on real earnings management. Using panel data econometrics, on all Tunisian commercial banks over the period 2008-2019, we show that board gender diversity has a disciplinary role in real earnings management as measured by discretionary revenue on equity securities. However, we show that board independence increases the real earnings management. As for board size, board duality, as well as the number of meetings carried out per year by the board of directors, we prove that they have no significant effect on real earnings management.

Real Earnings Management, Firm Performance, and Corporate Governance Mechanism

The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of real earnings management on firm performance and the impact of corporate governance as an intervening variable in the relationship between real earnings management and firm performance. The object are companies include in Corporate Governance Perception Index during 2015-2019 and listed in Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) and analyzed by using path analysis method. Real earnings management has a significant effect on the firm performance. Furthermore, with corporate governance mechanism within the company, real earnings management significantly affect firm performance. This research is meaningful, but has limitations. The result cannot be generalizing because the sample only companies that listed in CGPI and IDX period 2015-2019. The research implication are as follows: top level management should be cautious about credit policy, cash flow from operation, discretionary expenditures, and production. Earnings management is one of variable that the most prevalent in recent studies but the proxy for earnings management in the recent studies used discretionary accrual. In this research, real earnings management is used to indicate earnings management which measured by abnormal cash flow from operation. Thus, it may provide some contribution to the literature.

Does Real Earnings Management Explain Cost of Debt? Evidence from an Emerging Economy

This study tested the relationship between real earnings management and debt cost in Vietnam, a developing market. We used the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) Technique on a sample of 241 listed firms in Vietnam for 7 years from 2010 to 2016, with a total of 1687 observations collected. The regression result showed a positive association between real earnings management and cost of debt. The results of the study revealed that real earnings management is shown through the rising transactions and directly affected financial reports, thereby affecting creditors by affecting their cost of debt. This can be seen as the driving force for listed companies to increase the quality of their financial information. Our study only focussed on earnings manipulation through real earnings management (REM) to affect transaction costs in Vietnam. The research explains the relationship between managerial behavior (real earnings management) and direct influence on creditors' behavior (cost of debt capital). The result would give outside stakeholders an overall view about the usage of REM in Vietnamese listed firms, the reasonable action of investors, financial institutions, banks, etc on the debt market to reduce risk and the signal of warning for regulators and policy-makers. Keywords: real activities earnings management, cost of debt capital