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Ownership, Competition, and Financial Disclosure

Author

Listed:
  • Jacqueline L. Birt

    (School of Accounting and Business Information Systems, Australian National University. College of Business and Economics, Australian National University, CANBERRA ACT 0200)

  • Chris M. Bilson

    (School of Finance and Applied Statistics, College of Business and Economics, Australian National University, CANBERRA ACT 0200.)

  • Tom Smith

    (School of Finance and Applied Statistics, College of Business and Economics, Australian National University, CANBERRA ACT 0200.)

  • Robert E. Whaley

    (Owen School of Management, Vanderbilt University, 401 21st Avenue South, Nashville TN 37203.)

Abstract

A firm's incentive to disclose has been linked empirically to a range of variables, including information asymmetry, agency costs, political costs, and proprietary costs. While the intuition underlying each of the variables seems plausible, Verrecchia (2001) argues that disclosure models can be characterized as an eclectic mingling of highly idiosyncratic economic-based models, and challenges researchers to take the first steps to unification. First, we investigate the role of ownership and competition variables in explaining voluntary segment disclosures in Australian firms and find support for both these variables. Second, drawing on theory supported by the corporate governance, strategic management and industrial organization literatures, we introduce a new economic variable that unifies both ownership and competition variables. We find that the unifying variable performs better than our model focusing on ownership and competition variables alone. We conduct a series of robustness tests on the model and find that its significance is not affected by the inclusion of disclosure control variables identified in prior literature, the change in standard, and acquisitions and disposals of physical assets.

Suggested Citation

  • Jacqueline L. Birt & Chris M. Bilson & Tom Smith & Robert E. Whaley, 2006. "Ownership, Competition, and Financial Disclosure," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 31(2), pages 235-263, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ausman:v:31:y:2006:i:2:p:235-263
    DOI: 10.1177/031289620603100204
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Isabel†María García†Sánchez & Ligia Noguera†Gámez, 2018. "Institutional Investor Protection Pressures versus Firm Incentives in the Disclosure of Integrated Reporting," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 28(2), pages 199-219, June.
    2. Linda Kannenberg & Philipp Schreck, 2019. "Integrated reporting: boon or bane? A review of empirical research on its determinants and implications," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 89(5), pages 515-567, July.
    3. Jacqueline Christensen & Pamela Kent & Tom Smith, 2016. "The decision to outsource risk management services," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 56(4), pages 985-1015, December.
    4. Karen Benson & Peter M Clarkson & Tom Smith & Irene Tutticci, 2015. "A review of accounting research in the Asia Pacific region," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 40(1), pages 36-88, February.
    5. Hongfeng Peng & Xiao Zhang & Xiaoquan Zhu, 2017. "Political connections of the board of directors and credit financing: evidence from Chinese private enterprises," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 57(5), pages 1481-1516, December.
    6. Dean Katselas & Jacqueline Birt & Xin Hao Kang, 2011. "International Firm Lobbying and ED 8 Operating Segments," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 21(2), pages 154-166, June.
    7. Fang, Jianchun & Lau, Chi-Keung Marco & Lu, Zhou & Tan, Yong & Zhang, Hua, 2019. "Bank performance in China: A Perspective from Bank efficiency, risk-taking and market competition," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 290-309.
    8. Dean Katselas & Baljit K. Sidhu & Chuan Yu & Tom Smith, 2016. "Merging time-series Australian data across databases: challenges and solutions," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 56(4), pages 1071-1095, December.
    9. André, Paul & Filip, Andrei & Moldovan, Rucsandra, 2016. "Segment Disclosure Quantity and Quality under IFRS 8: Determinants and the Effect on Financial Analysts' Earnings Forecast Errors," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 51(4), pages 443-461.
    10. Sutharson Kanapathippillai & Dessalegn Mihret & Shireenjit Johl, 2019. "Remuneration Committees and Attribution Disclosures on Remuneration Decisions: Australian Evidence," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 158(4), pages 1063-1082, September.
    11. Ru Gao & Baljit K. Sidhu, 2018. "Convergence of accounting standards and financial reporting externality: evidence from mandatory IFRS adoption," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 58(3), pages 817-848, September.

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