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Uncovering Real Earnings Management: Pay Attention to Risk-Taking Behavior

Author

Listed:
  • Samar Alharbi

    (College of Administrations and Finance, Saudi Electronic University, Riyadh 13323, Saudi Arabia)

  • Md Al Mamun

    (Department of Economics, Finance, and Marketing, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia)

  • Nader Atawnah

    (School of Business and Law, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia)

Abstract

We examine the impact of corporate risk-taking on firm-level real earnings management. We find that firms with higher risk-taking engage in higher real earnings management. Our results are robust to a series of robustness tests, including simultaneous least squares approach, firm fixed effect, change analysis, and pseudo difference-in-difference analysis. Additional analyses reveal that the impact of risk-taking on real earnings management is more pronounced among firms that experience prior-year loss and are run by top-echelons who are risk lovers. Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) regulation does not attenuate the positive effect of risk-taking on real earnings management. However, external monitoring by institutional investors and takeover susceptibility curb the relation between risk-taking and real earnings management. Our study highlights that outsider, such as investors and regulators, should pay close attention to a firm’s risk-taking behavior to unravel the extent of real earnings management in the firm.

Suggested Citation

  • Samar Alharbi & Md Al Mamun & Nader Atawnah, 2021. "Uncovering Real Earnings Management: Pay Attention to Risk-Taking Behavior," IJFS, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-18, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijfss:v:9:y:2021:i:4:p:53-:d:641285
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Michael, Michael & Ali, Muhammad Jahangir & Atawnah, Nader & Muniandy, Balachandran, 2022. "Fiduciary or loyalty? Evidence from top management counsel and stock liquidity," Global Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).
    2. Benedict Valentine Arulanandam & Christo Selvan & Goh Xin Tong, 2023. "Critical Factors Influencing Firms' Risk-Taking Behaviour: CEO Characteristics and the Moderating Role of the Audit Committee," Central European Business Review, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2023(5), pages 1-41.
    3. Alharbi, Samar S. & Atawnah, Nader & Ali, Muhammad Jahangir & Eshraghi, Arman, 2023. "Gambling culture and earnings management: A novel perspective," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 520-539.
    4. Stephen Bahadar & Muhammad Nadeem & Rashid Zaman, 2023. "Toxic chemical releases and idiosyncratic return volatility: A prospect theory perspective," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 63(2), pages 2109-2143, June.

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