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Accounting comparability and relative performance evaluation by capital markets

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  • Wu, Sang
  • Xue, Wenjie

Abstract

This paper examines how accounting comparability affects the monitoring role and the risk allocation role of capital markets. We develop the statistical and informational properties of accounting reports under varying degrees of comparability. A perfectly comparable accounting information system enables investors to perfectly infer the difference between any two firms' future cash flows although investors remain uncertain about either firm's cash flow. Comparability alleviates entrepreneurs' moral hazard problem by strengthening the price response to the relative accounting performance, but can induce excessive price risk as well as residual systematic cash flow risk. Unlike the investors (users) who earn their surplus by bearing the residual systematic risk, the entrepreneurs (preparers) do not find perfect comparability desirable. Hence, a standard setter would mandate higher comparability than preferred by preparers, but not perfect comparability.

Suggested Citation

  • Wu, Sang & Xue, Wenjie, 2023. "Accounting comparability and relative performance evaluation by capital markets," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 75(1).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jaecon:v:75:y:2023:i:1:s0165410122000581
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jacceco.2022.101535
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Accounting comparability; Standard setting; Measurement error; Information externality;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G12 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Asset Pricing; Trading Volume; Bond Interest Rates
    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • G18 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • M41 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Accounting
    • M48 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Government Policy and Regulation

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