Prior research documents that gains from non-recurring transactions flow through to CEOs' compensation, but that losses from non-recurring transactions do not. This paper extends extant literature by exploring the determinants of this phenomenon. We provide evidence that the prior findings of...

Literature on S&P 500 index firms shows that there is significant improvement in the performance due to increased scrutiny of media and investors. Recently Platikonova (2008) documents improvement in the disclosure quality for firms following their inclusion in the index. Since, auditors are...

In this paper we provide evidence that independent director turnover is influenced by a series of economic factors. Directors, both independent and insider, are less likely to leave if they are paid well or if the firm has a director pension plan. They are also more likely to leave when the firm...

Purpose – This paper aims to address three questions: Does the abnormal delay in the audit process signal poor earnings quality? Is this information about earnings quality incremental to that contained in earnings report delay? Does the market use this information about earnings quality in...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the determinants of US firms' postretirement benefits choices. Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses empirical methodology (univariate and multivariate) to test the research hypotheses. Findings – Industry norm, average employee age,...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of the Enron scandal, Arthur Andersen's demise and the Sarbanes‐Oxley Act on audit fees. Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses empirical methodology (univariate and multivariate). Findings – Audit fees and the Big‐4...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to show that director turnover varies in predictable and intuitive ways with director incentives. Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses a sample of 51,388 observations pertaining to 13,084 directors who served 1,065 firms during the period...

This paper posits that the precision of accounting estimates should be an increasing function of experience due to learning effects. Using a sample of 747 observations for 305 firms for the period 1993–96 with complete data available on the COMPUSTAT, CRSP, and COMPACT DISCLOSURE databases,...

This study investigates the incremental value‐relevance of non‐pension postretirement benefit obligations and expenses (disclosed by firms pursuant to SFAS 106). Our study is motivated by previously published evidences that investors value the SFAS 106 measure of postretirement benefit...