We examine a model that incorporates two hidden-actions of the manager: a productive effort and a manipulative effort. The manager is paid a bonus based on the accounting report that the manager can manipulate. A downward restatement of the accounting report triggers lawsuits. The manager is...

Contracting parties (e.g., the firm and its supplier) have cost-reducing incentives to make investments which support the unique transactions between them. However, to the extent that one party may renege on its contractual obligations, the other party incurring the cost of the...

To estimate abnormal accruals, prior research employs a wide variety of models and estimation procedures. We evaluate the performance of three representative models – modified Jones model (MJ), MJ with operating cash flows (MJOCF), and MJ with return on assets (MJROA) – and two estimation...

This paper examines how the quality of firm information disclosure affects shareholders' use of dividends to mitigate agency problems. Managerial compensation is linked to firm value. However, because the manager and shareholders are asymmetrically informed, the manager can manipulate the firm's...

Contracting parties, such as the firm and its supplier, have cost-reducing incentives to make investments which support the unique transactions between them. However, to the extent that one party may renege on its contractual obligations, the other party incurring the cost of the...

This paper identifies several approaches to detection of manipulation in financial statements and creates a combined practical approach, which uses each of the existing algorithms in the complement manner to the others. It also introduces new P-Score formula, which in conjunction with Altman...

We examine whether firms in industries with greater labor mobility exhibit less myopic behavior. Using an occupation-based measure of labor mobility for a large sample of US firms, we show that greater labor mobility is associated with fewer myopic operating decisions. This association is...

This study examines the relation between accounting conservatism and firms' capital structure adjustments. We find that firms with more conservative financial reporting adjust their capital structure toward the target more quickly, especially within firms that rely more on external financing for...

We investigate whether income smoothing affects the usefulness of earnings for contracting through the monitoring role of earnings-based debt covenants. First, we examine initial contract design and predict that income smoothing will increase (decrease) the use of earnings-based covenants if...

This paper examines the effect of income smoothing on information uncertainty, stock returns, and cost of equity. I show that income smoothing through both total accruals and discretionary accruals tends to reduce firms' information uncertainty, as measured by stock return volatility, analyst...