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Accounting choice and future performance: The case of R&D accounting in France

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  • Cazavan-Jeny, Anne
  • Jeanjean, Thomas
  • Joos, Peter

Abstract

We examine whether managers' decisions to capitalize or expense R&D expenditures convey information about the future performance of the firm. Focusing on a French setting where managers can choose to capitalize R&D expenditures under certain circumstances, we find that, after controlling for industry effects, firms that capitalize R&D expenditures spend less on R&D, have more volatile R&D efforts, and are smaller and more leveraged than firms that expense R&D expenditures. We also find that capitalizers capitalize R&D outlays when they need to meet or beat thresholds. Finally, we show that the decision to capitalize R&D is generally associated with a negative or neutral impact on future performance, even after controlling for self-selection. Our results also show that when firms both capitalize and expense R&D expenditures, the expensed portion exhibits a stronger (and negative) relationship with future performance. Market-based tests corroborate these findings. While we cannot unambiguously establish whether our findings imply that management uses R&D capitalization to manage earnings or because it is unable to estimate the earning power of R&D projects, our results suggest that management is unable to truthfully convey information about future performance through its decision to capitalize R&D. Our findings, based on real data as opposed to simulated data, therefore contrast with previous supportive evidence in favor of capitalization in the literature.

Suggested Citation

  • Cazavan-Jeny, Anne & Jeanjean, Thomas & Joos, Peter, 2011. "Accounting choice and future performance: The case of R&D accounting in France," Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, Elsevier, vol. 30(2), pages 145-165, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:jappol:v:30:y::i:2:p:145-165
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    Cited by:

    1. Xiaomeng Chen & Sue Wright & Hai Wu, 2018. "Exploration intensity, analysts’ private information development and their forecast performance," Accounting and Business Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 48(1), pages 77-107, January.
    2. Ali Ostadhashemi & Muhammad Esmaeil Fadaei Nejad, 2019. "To study moderating role of ownership structure on R&D expenditure policies on accounting performance and market value," International Journal of Financial Engineering (IJFE), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 6(01), pages 1-18, March.
    3. Tatiana Garanina & Henri Hussinki & Johannes Dumay, 2021. "Accounting for intangibles and intellectual capital: a literature review from 2000 to 2020," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 61(4), pages 5111-5140, December.
    4. Dinh, Tami & Schultze, Wolfgang, 2022. "Accounting for R&D on the income statement? Evidence on non-discretionary vs. discretionary R&D capitalization under IFRS in Germany," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 46(C).
    5. Guillaume Dumas, 2012. "Le Comportement Myopique D'Investissement En R&D : Une Realite En France ?," Post-Print hal-00690955, HAL.
    6. Pyung K Kang & Yoo Chan Kim, 2016. "Capitalizing R&D expenditures or expensing them all?: Evidence from the accounting environment of South Korea," International Journal of Disclosure and Governance, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 13(2), pages 117-134, May.
    7. Lilyana Kamburova, 2020. "Òhe rise of intangible assets and approaches to their valuation," Economic Thought journal, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - Economic Research Institute, issue 1, pages 51-64.
    8. Brigitte Eierle & Simone Wencki, 2016. "The determinants of capitalising development costs in private companies: evidence from Germany," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 86(3), pages 259-300, April.
    9. Cheng, Jia-Chi & Lu, Chia-Chi & Kuo, Nan-Ting, 2016. "R&D capitalization and audit fees: Evidence from China," Advances in accounting, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 39-48.
    10. Gong, James Jianxin & Wang, Sophia I-Ling, 2016. "Changes in the value relevance of research and development expenses after IFRS adoption," Advances in accounting, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 49-61.
    11. Grzybek, Olga, 2023. "Are accounting choices for intangible assets informative or opportunistic? Evidence from Poland," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 51(C).
    12. Dargenidou, Christina & Jackson, Richard H.G. & Tsalavoutas, Ioannis & Tsoligkas, Fanis, 2021. "Capitalisation of R&D and the informativeness of stock prices: Pre- and post-IFRS evidence," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 53(4).
    13. Petros Kalantonis & Sotiria Schoina & Spyros Missiakoulis & Constantin Zopounidis, 2020. "The Impact of the Disclosed R & D Expenditure on the Value Relevance of the Accounting Information: Evidence from Greek Listed Firms," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 8(5), pages 1-18, May.
    14. Tami Dinh & Helen Kang & Wolfgang Schultze, 2016. "Capitalizing Research & Development: Signaling or Earnings Management?," European Accounting Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(2), pages 373-401, June.
    15. Namryoung Lee, 2018. "R&D Accounting Treatment, R&D State and Tax Avoidance: With a Focus on Biotech Firms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-12, December.
    16. Riccardo Cimini & Alessandro Gaetano & Alessandra Pagani, 2014. "The relation between R&D accounting treatment and the risk of the firm: Evidence from the Italian market," FINANCIAL REPORTING, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2014(1), pages 33-54.
    17. Constant Djama & Guillaume Dumas & Isabelle Martinez, 2013. "Entreprises innovantes et gestion des résultats comptables," Post-Print hal-01002932, HAL.
    18. Shah, Syed Zulfiqar Ali & Liang, Shuang & Akbar, Saeed, 2013. "International Financial Reporting Standards and the value relevance of R&D expenditures: Pre and post IFRS analysis," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 158-169.
    19. Hai Wu & Anne-Maree Thomas & Sue Wright, 2020. "Using the R&D capitalisation choice to explain the scale benefits of R&D investment," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 45(4), pages 579-606, November.
    20. Mazzi, Francesco & Slack, Richard & Tsalavoutas, Ioannis & Tsoligkas, Fanis, 2019. "Country-level corruption and accounting choice: Research & development capitalization under IFRS," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 51(5).
    21. Tahinakis, Panayiotis D., 2014. "R&D expenditures and earnings management: Evidence from Eurozone countries in crisis," The Journal of Economic Asymmetries, Elsevier, vol. 11(C), pages 104-119.
    22. Brasch, Annika & Eierle, Brigitte & Jarvis, Robin, 2022. "Research and development investments, development costs capitalization, and credit ratings: Exploratory evidence from UK R&D-active private firms," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 48(C).
    23. Guillaume Dumas, 2012. "Le Comportement Myopique D’Investissement En R&D : Une Realite En France ?," Post-Print hal-03948465, HAL.

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