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Unintended effects of IFRS adoption on earnings management: The case of Latin America

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  • Mongrut, Samuel
  • Winkelried, Diego

Abstract

We study the determinants of earnings opacity in the six largest Latin American economies (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru), in particular the effects of adopting IFRS. Using panel data on 871 listed firms during the period 2000 to 2016, we find that in Latin America the adoption of IFRS caused firms to substitute high quality audit practices with the newly imposed regulation, to the extent that its effect on the degree of opacity in the region became unintendedly positive. The results hold after a number of robustness checks. Thus, we provide compelling evidence against the belief that the mere adoption of the IFRS is sufficient to guarantee transparency in emerging markets.

Suggested Citation

  • Mongrut, Samuel & Winkelried, Diego, 2019. "Unintended effects of IFRS adoption on earnings management: The case of Latin America," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 377-388.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ememar:v:38:y:2019:i:c:p:377-388
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ememar.2018.11.004
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    Cited by:

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    3. Sticca, Ralph Melles & Nakao, Silvio Hiroshi, 2019. "Hedge accounting choice as exchange loss avoidance under financial crisis: Evidence from Brazil," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 41(C).
    4. Kim, Incheol & Lee, Suin & Sharma, Bina, 2023. "Competition law reform and firm performance: Evidence from developing countries," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 56(C).
    5. Hickman, L. Emily & Iyer, Subramanian Rama & Jadiyappa, Nemiraja, 2021. "The effect of voluntary and mandatory corporate social responsibility on earnings management: Evidence from India and the 2% rule," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 46(C).
    6. Yang, Mian & Tang, Wenliang, 2022. "Air pollution, political costs, and earnings management," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 51(PA).
    7. Katarina Valaskova & Peter Adamko & Katarina Frajtova Michalikova & Jaroslav Macek, 2021. "Quo Vadis, earnings management? Analysis of manipulation determinants in Central European environment," Oeconomia Copernicana, Institute of Economic Research, vol. 12(3), pages 631-669, September.
    8. Bayar Gardi & Mehmet Aga & Nabaz Nawzad Abdullah, 2023. "Corporate Governance and Financial Reporting Quality: The Mediation Role of IFRS," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-19, June.
    9. Elkins, Hamilton & Entwistle, Gary & Schmidt, Regan N., 2021. "The influence of opportunistic capital structure disclosure in international financial reporting on nonprofessional investors," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 42(C).
    10. Adhikari, Ajay & Bansal, Manish & Kumar, Ashish, 2021. "IFRS convergence and accounting quality: India a case study," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 45(C).
    11. Tatiana Dolgikh, 2022. "IFRS Adoption and the Financial Statements Comparability: The Case of Russia and Canada," European Financial and Accounting Journal, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2022(1), pages 7-24.
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    13. Shruti, R. & Thenmozhi, M., 2023. "Founder ownership and value relevance of IFRS convergence: Role of institutional investors," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Earnings management; Audit quality; Accounting regulation; Policy effects;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G30 - Financial Economics - - Corporate Finance and Governance - - - General
    • M48 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • O54 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Latin America; Caribbean

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