IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/acctfi/v64y2024i4p4157-4196.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Does corporate digitalisation moderate real earnings management?

Author

Listed:
  • Zhukun Lou
  • Mingran Li
  • Yuan George Shan
  • Ailin Ye

Abstract

We investigate the association between corporate digitalisation and firms' real earnings management (REM). Using an archival data set of 11,806 firm‐year observations from the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges between 2011 and 2020, our results show a negative association between the degree of corporate digitalisation and the level of REM. Furthermore, we find that the association between corporate governance mechanisms – including power balance, board independence and audit quality – and REM is more pronounced in firms with a high degree of digitalisation. We also note that the reduction of REM resulting from corporate digitalisation has a positive effect on firms' operating efficiency.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhukun Lou & Mingran Li & Yuan George Shan & Ailin Ye, 2024. "Does corporate digitalisation moderate real earnings management?," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 64(4), pages 4157-4196, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:acctfi:v:64:y:2024:i:4:p:4157-4196
    DOI: 10.1111/acfi.13301
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/acfi.13301
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/acfi.13301?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Maury, Benjamin & Pajuste, Anete, 2005. "Multiple large shareholders and firm value," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 29(7), pages 1813-1834, July.
    2. Kun Tracy Wang & Yanjun Liu & Wanbin Walter Wang, 2022. "Government Control, Regulatory Enforcement Actions, and the Cost of Equity," European Accounting Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(2), pages 449-493, March.
    3. Caprio, Lorenzo & Croci, Ettore & Del Giudice, Alfonso, 2011. "Ownership structure, family control, and acquisition decisions," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 17(5), pages 1636-1657.
    4. Riadh Manita & Najoua Elommal & Patricia Baudier & Lubica Hikkerova, 2020. "The digital transformation of external audit and its impact on corporate governance," Post-Print hal-04314467, HAL.
    5. Xie, Biao & Davidson, Wallace III & DaDalt, Peter J., 2003. "Earnings management and corporate governance: the role of the board and the audit committee," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 9(3), pages 295-316, June.
    6. Wenjie Chen & Fariha Kamal, 2016. "The impact of information and communication technology adoption on multinational firm boundary decisions," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 47(5), pages 563-576, June.
    7. Cornett, Marcia Millon & McNutt, Jamie John & Tehranian, Hassan, 2009. "Corporate governance and earnings management at large U.S. bank holding companies," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 15(4), pages 412-430, September.
    8. Aikaterini C. Ferentinou & Seraina C. Anagnostopoulou, 2016. "Accrual-based and real earnings management before and after IFRS adoption," Journal of Applied Accounting Research, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 17(1), pages 2-23, February.
    9. Velury, Uma & Jenkins, David S., 2006. "Institutional ownership and the quality of earnings," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 59(9), pages 1043-1051, September.
    10. Ruihao Ke & Meng Li & Zhejia Ling & Yuan Zhang, 2019. "Social Connections Within Executive Teams and Management Forecasts," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 65(1), pages 439-457, January.
    11. Graham, John R. & Harvey, Campbell R. & Rajgopal, Shiva, 2005. "The economic implications of corporate financial reporting," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 40(1-3), pages 3-73, December.
    12. Roychowdhury, Sugata, 2006. "Earnings management through real activities manipulation," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 42(3), pages 335-370, December.
    13. Alberto Alesina & Ekaterina Zhuravskaya, 2011. "Segregation and the Quality of Government in a Cross Section of Countries," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 101(5), pages 1872-1911, August.
    14. Hess, Thomas & Matt, Christian & Benlian, Alexander & Wiesböck, Florian, 2016. "Options for Formulating a Digital Transformation Strategy," Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) 81032, Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL).
    15. Chen, Tao & Harford, Jarrad & Lin, Chen, 2015. "Do analysts matter for governance? Evidence from natural experiments," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 115(2), pages 383-410.
    16. Irene Karamanou & Nikos Vafeas, 2005. "The Association between Corporate Boards, Audit Committees, and Management Earnings Forecasts: An Empirical Analysis," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(3), pages 453-486, June.
    17. Youngjin Yoo & Richard J. Boland & Kalle Lyytinen & Ann Majchrzak, 2012. "Organizing for Innovation in the Digitized World," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 23(5), pages 1398-1408, October.
    18. Li, Zhigang & Xie, Bingyuan & Chen, Ximing & Fu, Qilong, 2024. "Corporate digital transformation, governance shifts and executive pay-performance sensitivity," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    19. André Hanelt & René Bohnsack & David Marz & Cláudia Antunes Marante, 2021. "A Systematic Review of the Literature on Digital Transformation: Insights and Implications for Strategy and Organizational Change," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 58(5), pages 1159-1197, July.
    20. Verhoef, Peter C. & Broekhuizen, Thijs & Bart, Yakov & Bhattacharya, Abhi & Qi Dong, John & Fabian, Nicolai & Haenlein, Michael, 2021. "Digital transformation: A multidisciplinary reflection and research agenda," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 889-901.
    21. Enomoto, Masahiro & Kimura, Fumihiko & Yamaguchi, Tomoyasu, 2015. "Accrual-based and real earnings management: An international comparison for investor protection," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 11(3), pages 183-198.
    22. Ahn, Sang-Jin, 2020. "Three characteristics of technology competition by IoT-driven digitization," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    23. Jere R. Francis & Dechun Wang, 2008. "The Joint Effect of Investor Protection and Big 4 Audits on Earnings Quality around the World," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(1), pages 157-191, March.
    24. Hamid Sakaki & Dave Jackson & Surendranath Jory, 2017. "Institutional ownership stability and real earnings management," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 49(1), pages 227-244, July.
    25. Jaggi, Bikki & Leung, Sidney & Gul, Ferdinand, 2009. "Family control, board independence and earnings management: Evidence based on Hong Kong firms," Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, Elsevier, vol. 28(4), pages 281-300, July.
    26. Thomas Bourveau & Yun Lou & Rencheng Wang, 2018. "Shareholder Litigation and Corporate Disclosure: Evidence from Derivative Lawsuits," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 56(3), pages 797-842, June.
    27. Li, Yuanhui & Li, Xiao & Xiang, Erwei & Geri Djajadikerta, Hadrian, 2020. "Financial distress, internal control, and earnings management: Evidence from China," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 16(3).
    28. Dechow, Patricia M. & Kothari, S. P. & L. Watts, Ross, 1998. "The relation between earnings and cash flows," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 25(2), pages 133-168, May.
    29. Manita, Riadh & Elommal, Najoua & Baudier, Patricia & Hikkerova, Lubica, 2020. "The digital transformation of external audit and its impact on corporate governance," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    30. Bhandari, Krishna Raj & Zámborský, Peter & Ranta, Mikko & Salo, Jari, 2023. "Digitalization, internationalization, and firm performance: A resource-orchestration perspective on new OLI advantages," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(4).
    31. Cheng, Minying & Lin, Bingxuan & Lu, Rui & Wei, Minghai, 2020. "Non-controlling large shareholders in emerging markets: Evidence from China," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    32. James Levinsohn & Amil Petrin, 2003. "Estimating Production Functions Using Inputs to Control for Unobservables," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 70(2), pages 317-341.
    33. Xiongyuan Wang & Luofan Bu & Xuan Peng, 2021. "Internet of things adoption, earnings management, and resource allocation efficiency," China Journal of Accounting Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 9(3), pages 333-359, July.
    34. Attig, Najah & Guedhami, Omrane & Mishra, Dev, 2008. "Multiple large shareholders, control contests, and implied cost of equity," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 14(5), pages 721-737, December.
    35. Qiang Cheng & Young Jun Cho & Holly Yang, 2018. "Financial reporting changes and the internal information environment: Evidence from SFAS 142," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 23(1), pages 347-383, March.
    36. Jushan Bai, 2009. "Panel Data Models With Interactive Fixed Effects," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 77(4), pages 1229-1279, July.
    37. Alhadab, Mohammad & Clacher, Iain, 2018. "The impact of audit quality on real and accrual earnings management around IPOs," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 50(4), pages 442-461.
    38. Sabri Boubaker & Hind Sami, 2011. "Multiple large shareholders and earnings informativeness," Review of Accounting and Finance, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 10(3), pages 246-266, August.
    39. Armstrong, Christopher S. & Blouin, Jennifer L. & Jagolinzer, Alan D. & Larcker, David F., 2015. "Corporate Governance, Incentives, and Tax Avoidance," Research Papers 2134, Stanford University, Graduate School of Business.
    40. Cao, Feng & Peng, Songlan (Stella) & Ye, Kangtao, 2019. "Multiple large shareholders and corporate social responsibility reporting," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 287-309.
    41. Ahrum Choi & Jong‐Hag Choi & Byungcherl Charlie Sohn, 2018. "The Joint Effect of Audit Quality and Legal Regimes on the Use of Real Earnings Management: International Evidence," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 35(4), pages 2225-2257, December.
    42. Wanyi Chen & Weiyu Cai & Yingfan Hu & Yuke Zhang & Qinyuan Yu, 2022. "Gimmick or revolution: can corporate digital transformation improve accounting information quality?," International Journal of Emerging Markets, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 19(10), pages 2966-2990, December.
    43. Liu, Yu & Miletkov, Mihail K. & Wei, Zuobao & Yang, Tina, 2015. "Board independence and firm performance in China," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 223-244.
    44. Ling Lei Lisic & Linda A. Myers & Timothy A. Seidel & Jian Zhou, 2019. "Does Audit Committee Accounting Expertise Help to Promote Audit Quality? Evidence from Auditor Reporting of Internal Control Weaknesses†," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 36(4), pages 2521-2553, December.
    45. Wenxia Ge & Jeong-Bon Kim, 2014. "Boards, takeover protection, and real earnings management," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 43(4), pages 651-682, November.
    46. Jafari-Sadeghi, Vahid & Garcia-Perez, Alexeis & Candelo, Elena & Couturier, Jerome, 2021. "Exploring the impact of digital transformation on technology entrepreneurship and technological market expansion: The role of technology readiness, exploration and exploitation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 100-111.
    47. Najah Attig & Sadok El Ghoul & Omrane Guedhami & Sorin Rizeanu, 2013. "The governance role of multiple large shareholders: evidence from the valuation of cash holdings," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 17(2), pages 419-451, May.
    48. Zalata, Alaa Mansour & Tauringana, Venancio & Tingbani, Ishmael, 2018. "Audit committee financial expertise, gender, and earnings management: Does gender of the financial expert matter?," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 170-183.
    49. Hess, Thomas & Matt, Christian & Benlian, Alexander & Wiesböck, Florian, 2016. "Options for Formulating a Digital Transformation Strategy," Publications of Darmstadt Technical University, Institute for Business Studies (BWL) 82423, Darmstadt Technical University, Department of Business Administration, Economics and Law, Institute for Business Studies (BWL).
    50. Cohen, Daniel A. & Zarowin, Paul, 2010. "Accrual-based and real earnings management activities around seasoned equity offerings," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 50(1), pages 2-19, May.
    51. Elisabetta Ipino & Antonio Parbonetti, 2017. "Mandatory IFRS adoption: the trade-off between accrual-based and real earnings management," Accounting and Business Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 47(1), pages 91-121, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Muhammad Asad & Saeed Akbar & Sabur Mollah, 2024. "The role of independent directors’ tenure and network in controlling real-earnings management practices," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 63(4), pages 1251-1279, November.
    2. Ahsan Habib & Dinithi Ranasinghe & Julia Yonghua Wu & Pallab Kumar Biswas & Fawad Ahmad, 2022. "Real earnings management: A review of the international literature," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 62(4), pages 4279-4344, December.
    3. Mohamed Khalil & Sandy Harianto & Yilmaz Guney, 2022. "Do political connections reduce earnings management?," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 59(1), pages 273-310, July.
    4. Syed Farhan Shah & Abdul Rashid & Wasim Shahid Malik, 2024. "Potential Substitution Between Accrual Earnings Management and Real Earnings Management Among Pakistani Listed Firms," Global Business Review, International Management Institute, vol. 25(1), pages 180-197, February.
    5. Ali, Muhammad Jahangir & Biswas, Pallab Kumar & Chapple, Larelle & Kumarasinghe, Sriyalatha, 2024. "Institutional ownership and earnings quality: Evidence from China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    6. Kuo, Jing-Ming & Ning, Lutao & Song, Xiaoqi, 2014. "The Real and Accrual-based Earnings Management Behaviors: Evidence from the Split Share Structure Reform in China," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 49(1), pages 101-136.
    7. Rongli Yuan & Yadong Han & Zhanliao Chen, 2023. "Multiple Large Shareholders and Financial Reporting Quality: Evidence from China," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 59(1), pages 197-229, March.
    8. Zhu, Xiumei & Li, Yue, 2023. "The use of data-driven insight in ambidextrous digital transformation: How do resource orchestration, organizational strategic decision-making, and organizational agility matter?," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 196(C).
    9. Halabi, Hussein & Alshehabi, Ahmad & Zakaria, Idlan, 2019. "Informal institutions and managers’ earnings management choices: Evidence from IFRS-adopting countries," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 15(3).
    10. Elmawazini, Khaled & Galariotis, Emilios & Hossain, Ashrafee T. & Rjiba, Hatem, 2024. "Federal judge ideology and real earnings management," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    11. Kałdoński, Michał & Jewartowski, Tomasz & Mizerka, Jacek, 2020. "Capital market pressure, real earnings management, and institutional ownership stability - Evidence from Poland," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    12. Belal Ali Abdulraheem Ghaleb & Shaker Dahan Al-Duais & Abdulwahid Ahmed Hashed, 2021. "Audit Committee Chair s Legal Expertise and Real Activities Manipulation: Empirical Evidence from Malaysian Energy and Utilities Sectors," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 11(1), pages 65-73.
    13. Yang, Jingwen & Hemmings, Danial & Jaafar, Aziz & Jackson, Richard H.G., 2022. "The real earnings management gap between private and public firms: Evidence from Europe," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).
    14. Eman F. Attia & Tariq H. Ismail & Messaoud Mehafdi, 2022. "Impact of board of directors attributes on real-based earnings management: further evidence from Egypt," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 8(1), pages 1-22, December.
    15. Tang, Hui-Wen & Chen, Anlin, 2020. "How do market power and industry competition influence the effect of corporate governance on earnings management?," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 212-225.
    16. Hu, Fang & Kusnadi, Yuanto & Wang, Jiwei & Wang, Yujie, 2022. "Insider trading restrictions and real activities earnings management: International evidence," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    17. Enomoto, Masahiro & Kimura, Fumihiko & Yamaguchi, Tomoyasu, 2015. "Accrual-based and real earnings management: An international comparison for investor protection," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 11(3), pages 183-198.
    18. Ahmad Almashaqbeh & Hasnah Shaari & Hijattulah Abdul-Jabbar, 2019. "The Effect of Board Diversity on Real Earnings Management: Empirical Evidence From Jordan," International Journal of Financial Research, International Journal of Financial Research, Sciedu Press, vol. 11(5), pages 495-508, August.
    19. Masahiro Enomoto, 2018. "Cross-Country Research on Earnings Quality: A Literature Review and Future Opportunities," Discussion Paper Series DP2018-06, Research Institute for Economics & Business Administration, Kobe University, revised Oct 2020.
    20. Alexandre Garel & Jose Martin-Flores & Arthur Petit-Romec & Ayesha Scott, 2021. "Institutional investor distraction and earnings management," Post-Print hal-03096196, HAL.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:acctfi:v:64:y:2024:i:4:p:4157-4196. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/aaanzea.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.