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Benefits of Downward Earnings Management and Political Connection: Evidence from Government Subsidy and Market Pricing

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  • Jiang, Haiyan
  • Hu, Yuanyuan
  • Zhang, Honghui
  • Zhou, Donghua

Abstract

This paper examines the role of downward earnings management and political connection on the receipt of government subsidies and market pricing of subsidies. Using subsidies data hand-collected from Chinese listed firms over the period 2004–2014, the results show a significantly positive association between downward earnings management and the receipt of government subsidies. The results also reveal that a firm's political connection is conducive to securing subsidies for poor performers, but not for good performers. Market pricing analyses demonstrate that share markets value subsidies positively in general, but the effect is ameliorated in firms conducting downward earnings management. No discernible difference is found between the market pricing of subsidies received by firms with political connections and those without.

Suggested Citation

  • Jiang, Haiyan & Hu, Yuanyuan & Zhang, Honghui & Zhou, Donghua, 2018. "Benefits of Downward Earnings Management and Political Connection: Evidence from Government Subsidy and Market Pricing," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 53(4), pages 255-273.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:accoun:v:53:y:2018:i:4:p:255-273
    DOI: 10.1016/j.intacc.2018.11.001
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    3. Zhi Wang & Geert Braam & Daniel Reimsbach & Jiaxin Wang, 2020. "Political embeddedness and firms’ choices of earnings management strategies in China," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 60(5), pages 4723-4755, December.
    4. Mohamed Khalil & Sandy Harianto & Yilmaz Guney, 2022. "Do political connections reduce earnings management?," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 59(1), pages 273-310, July.
    5. Han Yu & Abraham Nahm & Zengji Song, 2023. "State‐owned enterprises' political capital, city administrative rank and economic resources acquisition: Empirical evidence from Chinese capital markets," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 44(1), pages 28-42, January.
    6. Chan Guo, 2022. "Sustainable Development of Chinese Family Firms: A Perspective from Downward Earnings Management before Successions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-21, July.

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