Firms enjoy wide discretion in their disclosure of patent-related events, which investors generally view as "good news" announcements. This study examines patent disclosure behavior before earnings announcements in light of managers incentives to avoid the stock price-related consequences of...

This study assesses the unintended effects of recent accounting regulation (SFAS 144) on a specificform of real activities earnings management, namely the timing of asset sales to smooth income. Thispaper finds that, by changing the qualifying criteria for discontinued operations, SFAS 144...