4 research outputs found
Comparing Earnings Management in Germany and the USA
ABSTRACT: This study presents empirical evidence concerning the effect of different accounting standard on
earnings management. Prior studies have shown that accounting standards influence earnings management. Tighter
accounting standards regime restricts management 19s descretion to manipulate accruals, and at the same time, induce
more costly real earnings management activities.
To investigate this issue, the levels of earnings management in the U.S. are compared with those of Germany. The data
are obtained from the Osiris database. The sample comprises of 4,388 firm-year observations for U.S companies and
792 firm-year observations for German companies for the period of 2004-2007. To capture accrual earnings management,
we use discretionary accrual, and to capture real earnings management we sum standardized abnormal cash flow from
operation (CFO), abnormal production costs, and abnormal discretionary expenses.
The result indicates that German 19s relatively principle-based GAAP yields higher level of accrual-based earnings
management than US 19s relatively rule-based GAAP. On the other hand, we also document that US GAAP yields
higher level real-based earnings management than German 19s GAAP