Earnings management using revenue classification shifting – evidence from the IFRS adoption period

Purpose This paper aims to provide evidence of an unintended observable consequence of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) adoption by examining opportunistic use of earnings management through revenue as well as expense items classification shifting in the year of transition. Design/methodology/approach To document classification shifting, the authors take advantage of the Korean mandatory IFRS adoption in 2011, when broad discretion was given to publicly traded companies’ managers to present operating profits. Findings It is found that companies strategically use both revenues and expenses to manage core earnings at the time of transition by shifting other income as a common tactic to improve their operating performance and special expenses just to meet or beat earnings targets. Originality/value Given the concerns of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) about classification shifting behavior and the debate over whether the SEC should mandate the use of IFRS for US companies, the findings of this study are timely and contribute to authors’ understanding of the unintended consequences of mandatory IFRS adoption.