Earnings Management in Family Firms: Current State of Knowledge and Opportunities for Future Research

Abstract

This paper synthesizes the extant research on earnings management in family firms. It reviews the current state of knowledge about this phenomenon, identifying the main theoretical frameworks used in the empirical research on the topic, as well as the main types of said research and its findings.Agency theory is identified as the main theoretical framework used. Two major types of research identified in the literature are discussed, namely earnings management in family firms versus non-family firms, and (2) earnings management in different types of family firms. Important research gaps are identified, and future research priorities are suggested. These pertain to the lack of research on earnings management in non-listed family firms and analyzing the realities of less developed countries, as well as the importance of using theoretical frameworks batter able to capture the peculiarities of family firms.