We examine the cost-effectiveness, from the shareholders' perspective, of the accounting standards issued by the FASB during 1973-2009. In particular, we evaluate (i) the stock market reactions of firms affected by the standards surrounding events that changed the probability of issuance of...

We experimentally study the deception detection capabilities of experienced auditors, using CEO narratives from earnings conference calls as case materials. We randomly assign narratives of fraud and non-fraud companies to auditors as well as the presence versus absence of an instruction...

Could real-time big data help unravel material firm events? How would it compare with firm disclosure and traditional media in terms of timeliness and completeness? Could big data provide incremental value-relevant information for investors? With these questions in mind, we use a novel data set...

Could real-time big data help unravel material firm events? How would it compare with firm disclosure and traditional media in terms of timeliness and completeness? Could big data provide incremental value-relevant information for investors? With these questions in mind, we use a novel data set...

This study adopts a two-step approach to highlight the disclosure quality channel that drives economic consequences of International Financial Reporting Standards [IFRS] adoption. This approach helps address the identification challenge noted by prior research and offer direct evidence on the...

This paper evaluates the real effects of the new lease standard, Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 842, on firms’ investment and operational outcomes. Using a sample of airline companies, we find that after the issuance of ASC 842, public airlines (treatment firms) reduce operating lease...

We examine whether vocal markers of cognitive dissonance are useful for detecting financial misreporting. We use speech samples of CEOs during earnings conference calls and generate vocal dissonance markers using automated vocal emotion analysis software. We begin by assessing construct validity...

We examine the extent to which analysts who participate in earnings conference calls by asking questions possess superior private information relative to analysts who do not ask questions. Using a large sample of earnings conference call transcripts over the period 2002 to 2005, we find that...

We examine (i) whether the business practices of Berkshire Hathaway investees are consistent with Warren Buffett's public statements on what constitutes good accounting, governance and investing practices and (ii) whether these practices are associated with Berkshire's initial “selection” or...

This paper uses a trading volume analysis to examine the extent to which SEC-mandated disclosures make firms' market risk exposures more transparent to investors. We hypothesize that if the SEC's quantitative market risk disclosures reduce investor disagreements about firms' risk exposures,...