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Real effects of auditor conservatism

Author

Listed:
  • Mahfuz Chy

    (University of Missouri)

  • Ole-Kristian Hope

    (University of Toronto
    BI Norwegian Business School)

Abstract

We examine the effect of auditor conservatism on corporate innovation. We hypothesize that, because conservative auditors constrain income-increasing accounting discretion, managers may sacrifice long-term investments in innovation to boost current earnings and meet short-term performance targets. Exploiting state-level auditor legal liability shocks as a means of identification, we find evidence consistent with this hypothesis. Cross-sectional analyses reveal that the negative effect of increased auditor conservatism on corporate innovation is more pronounced when the client firms are under greater equity- and debt-market pressures, when the client firms are exposed to greater litigation risk, and when the client firms are audited by large auditors. Our study highlights how auditors, as external monitors, can affect not only the financial reporting quality of their clients but may also induce alterations in their real operations.

Suggested Citation

  • Mahfuz Chy & Ole-Kristian Hope, 2021. "Real effects of auditor conservatism," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 26(2), pages 730-771, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:reaccs:v:26:y:2021:i:2:d:10.1007_s11142-020-09568-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s11142-020-09568-3
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    Cited by:

    1. Curtis Hall & J. Scott Judd & Jayanthi Sunder, 2023. "Auditor conservatism, audit quality, and real consequences for clients," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 28(2), pages 689-725, June.
    2. Hakim Lyngstad{aa}s & Johannes Mauritzen, 2023. "Adults in the room? The auditor and dividends in small firms: Evidence from a natural experiment," Papers 2301.11079, arXiv.org.
    3. Yingwen Deng & Ole‐Kristian Hope & Cyndia Wang & Min Zhang, 2022. "Capital market liberalization and auditors' accounting adjustments: Evidence from a quasi‐experiment," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 49(1-2), pages 215-248, January.
    4. Dongying Du & Xiaojian Tang & Huaiming Wang & Joseph H. Zhang & Stephanie Tsui & Dongjie Lin, 2022. "CEO organizational identification and corporate innovation investment," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 62(3), pages 4185-4217, September.
    5. Al-Hadi, Ahmed & Habib, Ahsan, 2023. "Consequences of state-level regulations in accounting, finance, and corporate governance: A review," Advances in accounting, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    6. Chy, Mahfuz & Kyung, Hoyoun, 2023. "The effect of bond market transparency on bank loan contracting," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 75(2).
    7. Xiaolu Xu & Leo L. Yang & Joseph H. Zhang, 2022. "How do auditors respond to client firms’ technological peer pressure? Evidence from going‐concern opinions," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 49(9-10), pages 1553-1580, October.
    8. Glover, Jonathan & Xue, Hao, 2023. "Accounting conservatism and relational contracting," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 76(1).

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