The trade-off between accrual-based and real earnings management: evidence from Jordan

Mohammad Azzam, Alaa AlQudah, Lara Al-Haddad and Ayman Abu Haija

International Journal of Accounting, Auditing and Performance Evaluation, 2021, vol. 17, issue 1/2, 73-92

Abstract: This study examines the extent of accrual-based and real earnings management surrounding three important turning points in the Jordanian business environment. Using a sample of 1748 firm-year observations between 2002 and 2016, the results show that firms have a great tendency towards using discretionary accruals to alter their reported earnings compared with real manipulation. Indeed, the magnitude of accrual-based earnings manipulation is increased significantly in the aftermath of the issuance of listing requirements. Interestingly, accrual-based and real earnings management is decreased significantly with the passage of the corporate governance code. In relation to the Arab Spring era, no clear evidence appears that firms are engaged in earnings management to embellish their financial reports. The overall results suggest that the ability of managers to exercise their discretion over earnings depends on firms' attributes such as the quality of the governance system, regulatory requirements and the surrounding business and political environment.

Keywords: accrual-based earnings management; real earnings management; financial reporting; corporate governance; listing requirements; Arab Spring; Jordan. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ids:ijaape:v:17:y:2021:i:1/2:p:73-92

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