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Investor protection, cross-listing and accounting quality

Author

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  • Kamarudin, Khairul Anuar
  • Ariff, Akmalia M.
  • Jaafar, Aziz

Abstract

Using 42,808 firm-year observations from 32 countries around the world, we investigate whether cross-listing in the US is associated with better accounting quality, and whether investor protection moderates the effect of cross-listing on accounting quality. Our main results show firms that are cross-listed in the US exhibit more timely reporting of losses, greater tendency to manage earnings downward, and more value relevance of accounting numbers as compared to their domestic counterparts. Cross-listed firms originating from high investor protection jurisdictions, particularly in high anti-director rights and common law countries, exhibit greater tendency to recognise a more timely reporting of losses and to manage earnings downward but exhibit lower value relevance of earnings as compared to cross-listed firms domiciled in low anti-director rights and non-common law countries. These results suggest that the strength of investor protection in home country plays an important role in determining the quality of accounting numbers of cross-listed firms.

Suggested Citation

  • Kamarudin, Khairul Anuar & Ariff, Akmalia M. & Jaafar, Aziz, 2020. "Investor protection, cross-listing and accounting quality," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 16(1).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jocaae:v:16:y:2020:i:1:s1815566919301195
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jcae.2019.100179
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    Cited by:

    1. Awadh Saeed Bin-Dohry & Hanita Kadir Shahar & Sharmilawati Sabki, 2023. "Destination choice of the dual listing decision: The case ASEAN-5 firms," Cogent Economics & Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 11(2), pages 2233773-223, June.
    2. Qiuyuan Lei & Muhammad Umer Quddoos Attari & Mustansar Hayat & Muhammad Munir Ahmad & Abdul Haseeb & Amir Rafique, 2023. "Mapping the Themes Underlying the Literature on Cross-Listing of Shares—A Contemporary Corporate Strategy of Sustainable Growth," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-26, June.
    3. Fatima Saleh Abd Almajeed Al-Hamshary & Akmalia M. Ariff & Khairul Anuar Kamarudin & Norakma Abd Majid, 2023. "Corporate Risk-Taking and Cash Holdings: The Moderating Effect of Investor Protection," Capital Markets Review, Malaysian Finance Association, vol. 31(1), pages 1-23.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Cross-listing; Accounting quality; Earnings management; Value-relevance; Conservatism;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G38 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • G18 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • M41 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Accounting

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