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The Impact of CEO Narcissism on Earnings Management

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  • Francesco Capalbo
  • Alex Frino
  • Ming Ying Lim
  • Vito Mollica
  • Riccardo Palumbo

Abstract

We provide the first empirical test of the relation between CEO narcissism and earnings manipulation. We test the hypothesis that narcissistic leaders over†identify themselves with the organizations they lead and expend considerable effort to achieve their goals, including by engaging in unethical behaviour. Earnings announcements are highly anticipated information releases by organizations. They are a key performance indicator used to evaluate the performance of CEOs. This study examines the use of first person singular pronouns by CEOs in response to questions at analyst conferences to measure narcissism. We provide evidence that firms with narcissistic CEOs engage in accruals management to manage earnings positively, highlighting the important effect of CEO personality on accounting choices.

Suggested Citation

  • Francesco Capalbo & Alex Frino & Ming Ying Lim & Vito Mollica & Riccardo Palumbo, 2018. "The Impact of CEO Narcissism on Earnings Management," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 54(2), pages 210-226, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:abacus:v:54:y:2018:i:2:p:210-226
    DOI: 10.1111/abac.12116
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    Cited by:

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    2. Wolfgang Breuer & Andreas Knetsch & Astrid Juliane Salzmann, 2020. "What Does It Mean When Managers Talk About Trust?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 166(3), pages 473-488, October.
    3. Tri Tri Nguyen & Chau Minh Duong & Sunitha Narendran, 2021. "CEO profile and earnings quality," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 56(3), pages 987-1025, April.
    4. Bassem Salhi, 2021. "The Relationship between CEO Psychological Biases, Corporate Governance and Corporate Social Responsibility," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-19, July.
    5. Johannes Thesing & Patrick Velte, 2021. "Do fair value measurements affect accounting-based earnings quality? A literature review with a focus on corporate governance as moderator," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 91(7), pages 965-1004, September.
    6. García-Meca, Emma & Ramón-Llorens, Maria-Camino & Martínez-Ferrero, Jennifer, 2021. "Are narcissistic CEOs more tax aggressive? The moderating role of internal audit committees," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 223-235.
    7. Katarina Valaskova & Peter Adamko & Katarina Frajtova Michalikova & Jaroslav Macek, 2021. "Quo Vadis, earnings management? Analysis of manipulation determinants in Central European environment," Oeconomia Copernicana, Institute of Economic Research, vol. 12(3), pages 631-669, September.
    8. Devrimi Kaya & Christian Maier & Tobias Böhmer, 2020. "Empirische Kapitalmarktforschung zu Conference Calls: Eine Literaturanalyse [Empirical Capital Market Research on Conference Calls: A Literature Review]," Schmalenbach Journal of Business Research, Springer, vol. 72(2), pages 183-212, June.
    9. Lin, Fengyi & Lin, Sheng-Wei & Fang, Wen-Chang, 2022. "Impact of CEO narcissism and hubris on corporate sustainability and firm performance," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    10. Maldonado, Tiffany & Vera, Dusya & Spangler, William D., 2022. "Unpacking humility: Leader humility, leader personality, and why they matter," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 65(2), pages 125-137.
    11. Kothari, Pratik & Chance, Don M. & Ferris, Stephen P., 2021. "Bragging rights: Does corporate boasting imply value creation?," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 67(C).
    12. Qiao, Penghua & Long, Yang & Fung, Hung-Gay & Kao, Erin Hui-Chuan, 2022. "Narcissistic leaders and corporate cash Holdings: Evidence in China," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    13. Lin, Fengyi & Lin, Sheng-Wei & Fang, Wen-Chang, 2020. "How CEO narcissism affects earnings management behaviors," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    14. James R. Scotter, 2020. "Narcissism in CEO research: a review and replication of the archival approach," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 70(4), pages 629-674, November.
    15. Stewart Jones & Nurul Alam, 2019. "A machine learning analysis of citation impact among selected Pacific Basin journals," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 59(4), pages 2509-2552, December.

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