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"Keep silent and make money": Institutional patterns of earnings management in China

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  • Li, Shaomin
  • Selover, David D.
  • Stein, Michael

Abstract

Assessing the overall quality of Chinese financial data is important to both academic researchers and regulators. Using data from the industrial census of China, we examine the institutional pattern of the manipulation of reported profit statistics by manufacturing firms. This manipulation of profits is called "earnings management." We find that earnings management is more pervasive in China than in mature market economies such as the U.S., and that Chinese firms appear to follow a "keep silent, make money" strategy by managing their reported earnings to zero. Specifically, we find that increased earnings management is associated with state-owned firms, firms reporting to higher levels of government, and firms in more marketized regions.

Suggested Citation

  • Li, Shaomin & Selover, David D. & Stein, Michael, 2011. ""Keep silent and make money": Institutional patterns of earnings management in China," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 22(5), pages 369-382, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:asieco:v:22:y:2011:i:5:p:369-382
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    2. Ruqia Shaikh & Guo Fei & Muhammad Shaique & Muhammad Rizwan Nazir, 2019. "Control-Enhancing Mechanisms and Earnings Management: Empirical Evidence from Pakistan," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-23, August.
    3. Yang, Zhonghai & Xiu, Xue & Xu, Meng & Zhao, Yixiu, 2024. "Noncontrolling shareholders' network centrality and corporate earnings management: Governance or conspiracy?," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    4. Bao, Shuji Rosey & Lewellyn, Krista B., 2017. "Ownership structure and earnings management in emerging markets—An institutionalized agency perspective," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(5), pages 828-838.
    5. Heinz, Philip & Patel, Chris & Hellmann, Andreas, 2013. "Some theoretical and methodological suggestions for studies examining accountants' professional judgments and earnings management," Advances in accounting, Elsevier, vol. 29(2), pages 299-311.
    6. Wil Martens & Prem W. S. Yapa & Maryam Safari, 2020. "The Impact of Financial Statement Comparability on Earnings Management: Evidence from Frontier Markets," IJFS, MDPI, vol. 8(4), pages 1-25, November.
    7. Hanh Thi My Le & Qian Long Kweh & Irene Wei Kiong Ting & Mohammad Nourani, 2022. "CEO power and earnings management: Dual roles of foreign shareholders in Vietnamese listed companies," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 27(1), pages 1240-1256, January.
    8. Huynh, Japan, 2025. "Impact of banking uncertainty on firm opacity: Evidence from Vietnam," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    9. Tutun Mukherjee & Som Sankar Sen, 2022. "Impact of CEO attributes on corporate reputation, financial performance, and corporate sustainable growth: evidence from India," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 8(1), pages 1-50, December.
    10. Han, Minghui & Ding, Ashley & Zhang, Hao, 2022. "Foreign ownership and earnings management," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 114-133.
    11. Adnan Shoaib & Muhammad A. Siddiqui, 2022. "Earning information content changes based on accrual measures and quality measures: Evidences from member countries of Asia Pacific trade agreement," International Journal of Finance & Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 27(1), pages 1526-1546, January.

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