Earnings management in family firms: current state of knowledge and opportunities for future research

Abstract

Purpose– This paper aims to synthesize the extant research on earnings management in family firms.Design/methodology/approach– The paper reviews the current state of knowledge about earnings management in family firms, 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.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 earnings management in different types of family firms.Originality/value– Important research gaps are identified, and future research priorities are suggested. These pertain to the lack of research on earnings management in different types of family firms, the utility of using qualitative and experimental research, as well as the importance of using theoretical frameworks better able to capture the peculiarities of family firms.