This paper studies the comparability between US GAAP and International Accounting Standards/International Financial Reporting Standards (IAS/IFRS) by looking at the Form 20-F reconciliation adjustments to US GAAP made by firms using IASs in the period from 1995 to 2001. Adjustments have been...

Using a sample of Spanish listed firms for the period 1997-2002 we find that firms where the CEO has a low influence over the functioning of the board of directors show a greater degree of accounting conservatism. We measure the influence of the CEO over the board of directors using two...

This paper examines whether firms cut R&D spending in response to short-term earnings pressures and how equity markets interpret such behaviour. Failure to report positive earnings and earnings growth increases the probability of a subsequent cut in R&D spending, while pressure to report...

This paper analyses earnings quality in ex-post failed firms. Using a large sample of UK bankrupt firms, we find that failed firms manage earnings upwards in the four years prior to failure. This manipulation is achieved in two ways: (1) through accounting (accruals) manipulation, and (2) by...

We argue that conservatism improves investment efficiency. In particular, we predict that it resolves debt-equity conflicts, facilitating a firm's access to debt financing and limiting underinvestment. This permits the financing of prudent investments that otherwise might not be pursued. Our...