Real Earnings Management Activities Research Articles

The Effects of Cost Stickiness on Real Earnings Management: A Data Analysis of Export Marketers

Purpose Export marketers may have incentives to attempt real earnings management to avoid low reported earnings. Therefore, we attempted to verify the relationship between cost stickiness and real earnings management in the context of export marketing. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from exporters that settle-accounts in December excluding financial businesses listed on the stock market from 2015 to 2019. Multiple regression analysis were employed to analyze the data. Findings - The results showed that there is a negative relationship between cost stickiness and real earnings management. In addition, the results showed that export marketers little attempt to offset the cost inefficiency caused by the increase in expense because of cost stickiness with opportunistic management activities through real earnings management. Rather, as the level of real earnings management appears lower, exporters showing cost stickiness are expected to report management performance based on actual marketing. Furthermore, exporters with a high level of managerial centrality or high managerial overconfidence little attempt to offset cost inefficiency caused by cost stickiness with real earnings management activities. Research implications or Originality - Our study is the first to investigate the quality of earnings information of exporters with cost stickiness. Based on the results, we suggested efficient marketing strategies for exporters.

The Impact of Board Characteristics on Earnings Management Practices Through Real Activities: Evidence from The Egyptian Environment

This research aims to demonstrate the relationship between the board of directors’ characteristics and the practices of real earnings management in the companies operating in the market. results: The existence of a statistically significant relationship between the board of directors characteristics and earnings management with real activities through sales, the existence of a statistically significant relationship between the board of directors characteristics and real earnings management activities through production, the necessity of establishing the National Authority for Governance of Business and Governmental Establishments with the aim of eliminating financial, administrative, economic and political corruption at the level of The state.

Pengaruh Manajemen Laba Riil terhadap Audit Fee: Studi Empiris pada Perusahaan yang Terdaftar di Bursa Efek Indonesia Tahun 2015-2019

This study aims to examine the effect of real earnings management (REM) on audit fees. This research was conducted on companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) in 2015-2019. The sample from this study was selected using purposive sampling technique that produces sample of 138 companies. The dependent variable of Audit fee is measured using the actual value of the audit fee divided by 100,000. REM as an independent variable is measured using Roychowdhury (2006) model which has been modified by Suksonghong and Amran (2020) which focuses on abnormal discretionary costs and abnormal production costs. The results of this study found that companies involved in REM activities carried out by client companies had a positive and significant effect on the audit fees paid to auditors.

Analyst following, financial constraint, and audit opinion shopping: From the perspective of earning management

AbstractThis study examines the relationships among analyst following, financial constraint, and audit opinion shopping from the perspective of earnings management, taking a sample of Chinese A‐share firms from 2008 to 2018. We find that analyst following alleviates firm's accrued earnings management activities which restrain opinion shopping behaviors; on the other hand, it prompts real earnings management activities that encourage firm's effort to audit opinion shopping. Earnings management has a mediation effect on the positive association between analyst following and audit opinion shopping. Corporate financial constraint amplifies the positive effect of analyst following on opinion shopping.

Substitution between Accrual-Based Earnings Management and Real Activities Manipulation—A Commentary and Guidance for Future Research

ABSTRACTConsidering the voluminous published research confirming and extending the original findings of Cohen, Dey, and Lys (2008), we conclude that Pincus, Wu, and Hwang (2022) make a modest contribution to the earnings management literature. Specifically, their analysis does not incorporate recent advances in the earnings management literature, especially the measurement and estimation of real earnings management activities and the incorporation of the changing information environment. As a result, we conclude that the Pincus et al. (2022) results and conclusions with regards to the substitution between accrual-based and real earnings management activities should be interpreted with caution.JEL Classifications: G10; M4.

Earnings Management and the Reputation of Nomads Around IPOs: The Experience of the UK Alternative Investment Market

The research problem We examined whether the reputation of the nominated advisor (Nomad) impacts the accrual and real earnings management of initial public offering (IPO) firms on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange in the UK. Motivation and theoretical reasoning While the role of Nomads on the AIM is a significant determinant in ensuring the integrity of the financial reporting quality of their advisee firms, to date, there has been no analysis of the impact of Nomads on such reporting activities. The test hypothesis The main hypothesis of this study tested whether IPO firms that appoint a more reputable Nomad exhibit a lower level of accrual-based and real-based earnings management during the IPO. Target population The initial sample of this study consisted of all IPO firms that went public on the AIM between January 1998 and December 2008. After restricting the sample to non-financial IPO firms with the necessary data available to estimate accrual and real earnings management and Nomad reputation, the final sample consisted of 432 IPO firms that are backed by 80 Nomads over the sample period. Adopted methodology Two real earnings management activities were examined: sales-based manipulation and discretionary expenses–based manipulation. Discretionary accruals were estimated as a proxy of accrual earnings management. To construct the unweighted index of Nomad reputation (NOMAD), data were manually collected for the number of IPOs backed by a Nomad, proceeds of IPOs backed by the Nomad, the Nomad’s age, and the Nomad’s credit score. Analyses Following prior research, several techniques and regressions were employed to test the hypothetical relation between Nomad reputation and accrual and real earnings management. As for robustness, both Heckman and instrumental variable (IV) regressions were used to control for sample selection bias, and a three-stage least squares (3SLS) estimation approach was used to test for the two-way interaction between Nomad reputation and earnings management. Findings This paper found evidence that more reputable Nomads on the AIM play a significant role in constraining the use of accrual-based and real-based earnings management during the IPO year by their advisee IPO firms. This is also the first evidence on the significant role of reputable financial institutions and intermediaries in monitoring the financial reporting quality in less regulated markets such as the AIM in the UK.

COVID-19 and earnings management: a comparison between Chinese family and non-family enterprises

PurposeThe main objective of this study is to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on earnings management practices in China using a sample of family and non-family enterprises. More specifically, this study aims to examine whether the COVID-19 pandemic causes variation in Chinese listed family and non-family enterprises' operations, as reflected in the level of real earnings management (REM).Design/methodology/approachThis study uses three standardised REM indicators, namely, the abnormal level of cash flows from operations, the abnormal level of production costs and the abnormal level of discretionary expenses. Ordinary least squares (OLS) regressions are applied to compare the earnings management of Chinese family and non-family enterprises during the pre-pandemic period (2017–2019) and the pandemic period (2020).Findings The authors find that Chinese listed non-family enterprises tend to participate in more REM activities than family enterprises before the COVID-19 outbreak. However, the opposite is true during the pandemic. The authors also find that COVID-19 has increased the involvement of family and non-family enterprises in REM activities.Originality/valueThe results of previous studies based on REM using Chinese listed firms may not be applicable under the new social background of COVID-19. As the period after the COVID-19 outbreak is relatively recent, Chinese researchers have yet to study it comprehensively. The present study is amongst the first empirical attempts investigating the effect of a pandemic financial reporting by investigating whether and how the burst of the COVID-19 crisis affected financial reporting through the earnings management practices of listed Chinese family and non-family enterprises. Such information is crucial because it can provide analysis for all stakeholders to make better decisions.

Does Tax Avoidance, Deferred Tax Expenses and Deferred Tax Liabilities Affect Real Earnings Management? Evidence from Indonesia

The study analyses the effect of tax avoidance, deferred tax expenses and deferred tax liabilities on real earnings management. The samples consist of 152 manufacturing companies listed on the Indonesian Stock Exchange (IDX). The study examines the financial statements from 2011 to 2019, ending up with 1,368 observations. The empirical results of this study are as follows. First, tax avoidance affects positively the abnormal discretionary operating cash flows and the abnormal discretionary expenses. However, tax avoidance does not affect the abnormal discretionary production costs. Second, deferred tax expenses affect real earnings management positively, either through abnormal discretionary operating cash flows, abnormal discretionary expenses, or abnormal discretionary production costs. Third, deferred tax liabilities affect real earnings management positively, either by using abnormal discretionary operating cash flows, abnormal discretionary expenses, or abnormal discretionary production costs. The findings of this study may be of interest to regulators and tax authorities, as they highlight how to increase the actual amount of tax payments by reducing the occurrence of real earnings management activities. Regulators need to consider tax audits on companies that have suffered losses but are still operating.

Real Earnings Management, Firm Value, and Corporate Governance: Evidence from the Korean Market

In this study, we investigate whether effective corporate governance (CG) intervenes in the relationship between real earnings management (REM) and firm value (FV) by introducing Korean market data. We find that management’s opportunistic REM behavior is no longer effective for firms characterized by strong CG. More importantly, our interaction and robustness analyses show evidence indicating that CG plays an effective monitoring role in preventing management from engaging in opportunistic REM activities, and FV ceases to experience the decrease associated with REM activities as a consequence.

Real Earnings Management and Firm Value using Quarterly Financial Data: Evidence from Korea

Purpose: This study examines whether real earnings management (REM) affects firm value by introducing quarterly financial data in the Korean market. Design/methodology/approach: The study employed four REM metrics as independent variables, and Tobin s Q as dependent variable. Ordinary least-squares (OLS) panel data regressions were used. To control the endogeneity issue, the two-stage least square (2SLS) regression model was implemented in the analysis. Findings: A significant negative relationship between REM and firm value was found in suspicious firms, whereas no statistically significant relationship was found in non-suspicious firms. Findings revealed that the negative relationship tends to prevail for at least two consecutive quarters. The result of 2SLS regression supports the previous findings that REM activities negatively affect firm value. Research limitations/implications: These results are consistent with the view that managers’ opportunistic behavior in terms of REM, may result in decreasing firm values. Mover, the REM effect reverberates not only in the current cash flow from operations (CFO) but also in the next period. Originality/value: Financial regulators need to review carefully the quarterly and annual financial statements to detect firms with relatively high REM activities because these temporarily increased or decreased real activities are underestimated or reversed in subsequent quarters, which reduces earnings sustainability or decreases the firms’ performance. The study suggests the implementation of a robust planning and financial-control system in firms to recognize and anticipate the earnings manipulations.

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND REAL EARNINGS MANAGEMENT: DOES BOARD GENDER DIVERSITY MATTER?

The purpose of this paper was to examine the moderating effect of board gender diversity on the relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and real earnings management (REM). It drowns on French listed companies from 2005 to 2019. The results show that there is a positive relationship between CSR and REM. Our findings also show that this positive relation is moderated in firms with higher board gender diversity, mainly because female directors show a high socially responsible behaviour and are negatively associated with earnings management practices. Our results are robust to alternative board gender diversity measures, only after the quota law adoption. The positive relationship between CSR and REM suggests that companies with higher CSR performance are exposed to high discretionary behaviour. CSR can be strategically used by managers to hide unethical practices, such as real earnings management activities. In addition, the findings highlight the importance of board gender diversity in reducing agency costs and ensuring higher monitoring, particularly after the quota law adoption.

The Effect of Real Earnings Management on Economic Value Added: Listed Companies of Dubai Financial Market

Abstract: In this paper, we reviewed the impact of Real Earnings Management on the Economic Value Added. The real earnings management value was calculated for (52) companies listed on the Dubai Financial Market through (Sales Manipulation, Production Costs Manipulation, and Discretionary Expenses Manipulation), the period of study 5 years from 2014 to 2018, the results showed that companies practiced real earnings management activities in varying proportions. In addition, we calculated the economic value added without adjustments and with additional adjustments for all sample companies. To test the validity of the hypothesis, we used a regression analysis by applying the three empirical models. Through the results of the analysis, we accepted the alternative hypothesis it's mean we funded the negative effect of real earnings management on economic value added (negative significance) Keywords: Earnings Management, Real Earning Management, Economic Value Added

Analysis of Factors that Influence SOE'S Superior Performance with Cost Leadership as a Mediation Variable

This study aims to analyze the factors that affect the performance of State-Owned Enterprises or BUMN. The method of determining the sample using purposive sampling, and analyze the factors that affect the performance of State-Owned Enterprises. Research is finding that the variables that affect significantly the performance of state-owned enterprises are cost leadership, leverage, capital expenditure, growth, real earnings management activities, indicators of performance management, cash flow from operating, liquidity, taxes, size, contribution margin, and revenue. The originality of the research is, is the measurement of the variable cost leadership that is based on elasticity theory, and novelty in the measurement variable indicator of the performance of the management which is based on the criteria of the activity in judging the performance of SOEs. The implication of this research is to make it easier for SOE management to achieve performance targets by taking into account the magnitude of the coefficient of influence of key variables on the performance of SOEs.

Rzeczowe zarządzanie zyskiem jako instrument kształtowania dużych strat w przedsiębiorstwach przemysłowych

The purpose of the article/hypothesis: The aim of the paper is to show the importance of the implemented real earnings management (REM) in the intentional shaping of large losses in public industrial enterprises listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. Methodology: The basic method of assessing the REM activities was compliant with the Roychowdhury methodology, enabling the estimation of the abnormal levels of: operational cash flows, production costs and discretionary expenses. In turn, the modified verision of iosik model was used to assess the impact of REM practices on the frequency of large losses in tested sample. Results of the research: The obtained results show that the REM implemented by means of overproduction, granting above-average rebates and a liberal approach in the field of trade credits may be considered an important path of intentional deepening of the net loss in public industrial companies.

Ownership structure and real earnings management: evidence from an emerging market

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the monitoring role of ownership structure (OWS) on real earnings management (REM) practices; previous studies primarily examined the effect of OWS on accrual-based earnings management.Design/methodology/approachThe sample of this study is 490 companies listed on the Malaysian Stock Exchange during the period 2013–2016 (1,960 company-year observations). The regression of a feasible generalized least square was used for data analysis. The authors use three regression models ordinary least squares, panel-corrected standard errors and Driscoll–Kraay standard errors to corroborate the findings and also examine alternative REM measures.FindingsAnalysis of the data shows that family, foreign and institutional ownership has a positive link with the quality of financial reporting and, to a large extent, is capable of alleviating REM. The findings also indicate that some form of OWS significantly affects REM, corroborating existing theories on corporate governance (CG) and the perspectives of practitioners.Practical implicationsThe evidence concerns the significant role played by the OWS in reducing REM activities. The findings are useful in support of regulatory activities, particularly in the design of policies to regulate the OWS. The results may also provide useful insights to inform other policymakers, investors, shareholders and researchers about the active role of family, foreign and institutional investors in monitoring Malaysia's public listed companies (PLCs) to strengthen CG practices. This also leads to less REM and enhances the quality of financial reporting.Originality/valueTo the authors' knowledge, this work is pioneering research from a developing country, specifically from Malaysia, to investigate the manner in which all possible OWSs influence REM. More importantly, the study recommends that regulators and researchers do not envisage OWS as a holistic phenomenon.

Abnormal real activities, meeting earnings targets and firms' future operating performance: evidence from an emerging economy

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the extent to which real earnings management (REM) is used in Jordan to meet zero or previous year's earnings, and how this impacts the subsequent operating performance of Jordanian firms.Design/methodology/approachThe study used a sample of 98 Jordanian listed firms over the 2010–2018 period. To test the research hypotheses, which are formulated in accordance with both, agency theory and signalling theory, multivariate regression is performed using a pooled OLS estimation. Additionally, a two-step dynamic generalised method of moment (GMM) model has been estimated to address any concerns regarding the potential occurrence of endogeneity issues.FindingsThe results show that Jordanian firms that meet zero or last year's earnings tend to exhibit evidence of real activities manipulations. More specifically, suspect firms show unusually low abnormal discretionary expenses and unusually high abnormal production costs. Further, consistent with the signalling earnings management argument, the authors find that abnormal real-based activities intended to meet zero earnings or previous year's earnings potentially improve the subsequent operating performance of Jordanian firms. This implies that REM is not totally opportunistic, but it can be used to enhance the subsequent operating performance of Jordanian firms. Our findings are robust to alternative proxies and endogeneity concerns.Practical implicationsThe findings have several implications for policymakers, regulators, audit professionals and investors in their attempts to constrain REM practices to enhance financial reporting quality in Jordan. Managing earnings by reducing discretionary expenses appeared to be the most convenient way to manipulate earnings in Jordan. It provides flexibility in terms of time and the amount of spending. The empirical evidence, therefore, reiterates the crucial necessity to refocus the efforts of internal and external auditors on limiting this type of manipulation to reduce the occurrence of REM activities and enhance the subsequent operating performance of listed firms in Jordan. Drawing on Al-Haddad and Whittington (2019), the evidence also urges regulators and standards setters to develop a more effective enforcement mechanism for corporate governance provisions in Jordan to minimise the likelihood of REM incidence.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the body of the accounting literature by providing the first empirical evidence in the Middle East region overall on the use of REM to meet zero or previous year earnings by Jordanian firms. Moreover, the study is the first to empirically examine the relationship between REM and Jordanian firms' future operating performance.

Doing good when doing well: evidence on real earnings management

We provide evidence on earnings management by exploiting temporary exogenous shocks to utility firms’ sales arising from weather variation. We find that sample firms’ sales are highly sensitive to annual changes in average temperatures in the region where the firm operates, but this sensitivity disappears quickly as one moves down the income statement. This evidence, while indirect, is suggestive of earnings management activities. In search of direct evidence, we study charitable giving decisions by sample firms and uncover a significant positive sensitivity of charitable spending to weather-driven demand shocks, behavior that is highly consistent with the presence of real earnings management efforts. We find no convincing evidence supporting possible alternative explanations for this evidence, but we do find limited support for the presence of a larger giving–weather relation when earnings management incentives are likely to be elevated. If other real decisions with similar characteristics scale proportionally to charitable giving, our findings suggest that the overall magnitude of real earnings management activities could be quite substantial.

KUALITAS CEO DAN MANAJEMEN LABA RIIL: APAKAH SIKLUS HIDUP PERUSAHAAN PENTING? BUKTI DARI INDONESIA

This study aims to examine whether chief executive officer (CEO) characteristic quality affect the real earnings management from Indonesia public companies. This study used annual reports and financial statement from Indonesia Stock Exchange especially from manufacturing sectors for period 2013-2018. To capture CEO characteristics quality, the authors develops aggregate CEO characteristics as CEO characteristics quality index namely financial expertise, educational background, professional career, tenure, age, and CEO status. This study also examines how well CEO characteristics quality index could signal the presence of earnings management. The author use life cycle proxies of DeAngelo et al (2006) to capture the dynamic nature of corporate life cycle, namely retained earnings-to-total asset (RE/TA) as growth stage and mature stage. The results show that companies with high CEO quality can suppress the occurrence of real earnings management activities both for the mature stage and for the growth stage. The findings suggest that having a general assessment of the CEO’s characteristics could signal the presence of real earnings management.

Effect of Real Earnings Management on Firm Performance: Evidence from India

This study investigates the effect of real earnings management (REM) on firms’ future performance in India. The sample comprises a balanced panel of 108 non-financial firms belonging to 21 industries (as per the two-digit NIC classification code) from 2006 to 2018. The proxy for REM given by Roychowdhury (2006) is used to measure REM, and the firm’s performance is measured through return on assets (ROA), return on equity (ROE) and price-to-earnings (PE) ratio. While ROA and ROE are measures of accounting performance, PE captures market performance. To explore the impact of REM activities on firms’ future performance, a Generalized method of moments (GMM) estimator is used in a dynamic panel setting. Since the proxy variables for performance is measured on a lead year basis, the analysis is restricted to the period 2006–2017. We also control for firm size, financial stability and growth. Our research reflects that Indian firms usually manipulate earnings by reducing discretionary expenditures. Regression results indicate that REM activities affect both accounting and market performance negatively.

The Effects of Macroeconomic Business Cycle on Earnings Management: Evidence from Korean Companies

This paper examines the relationship between macroeconomic business cycles and earnings management, specifically, whether firms make more earnings management during the boom period of the macroeconomic business cycle or during contraction period of the business cycle. Earnings management is activities of getting certain benefits by involving in external financial reporting or confusing certain stakeholders through adjustments to accruals without involvement of cash flows or with cash flows through real activities. In examining the relationship, we used the models of Kothari et al. (2005) and Cohen et al. (2008) for accrual-based earnings management (AEM) and real activities earnings management (REM), respectively, for earnings management proxies. We also used composite economic indicators, real GDP growth and BSI for proxies of macroeconomic business cycles. Using a data set for Korean companies listed from 2005 to 2017, we developed and tested a panel regression model with fixed effects to capture the relationship. The results show that companies perform earnings management more often during economic booms than during contraction periods. This is interpreted that firms try to avoid disclosure of lower net income compared to the expectations of analysts or average net income of companies in the same industry. This study is giving insights to external auditors when they perform external audit on the firms’ financial statement, they need to spend more attention on the firms’ earning management behaviors during boom period rather than contract period. It applies the same to analysts of securities.