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Economic Consequences of Accounting Enforcement Reforms: The Case of Germany

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  • J�rgen Ernstberger
  • Michael Stich
  • Oliver Vogler

Abstract

This study investigates recent reforms in financial reporting enforcement in Germany. The objective of these reforms was to promote a consistent and faithful application of accounting standards. Using a difference-in-differences approach, we find some evidence of a decrease in earnings management, an increase in stock liquidity, and, to a limited extent, an increase in market valuation for companies that fall under the new enforcement regime. Our results also provide some support for the notion that companies characterized by an overall low level of enforcement through other internal and external mechanisms are particularly affected by these reforms. The results are largely robust in several sensitivity analyses, but the results must be interpreted with caution because we cannot completely rule out the possibility of other explanations.

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  • J�rgen Ernstberger & Michael Stich & Oliver Vogler, 2012. "Economic Consequences of Accounting Enforcement Reforms: The Case of Germany," European Accounting Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(2), pages 217-251, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:euract:v:21:y:2012:i:2:p:217-251
    DOI: 10.1080/09638180.2011.628096
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    6. Opare, Solomon & Houqe, Muhammad Nurul & van Zijl, Tony, 2020. "IFRS adoption and seasoned equity offering underperformance," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    7. Dal Maso, Lorenzo & Kanagaretnam, Kiridaran & Lobo, Gerald J. & Mazzi, Francesco, 2020. "Is accounting enforcement related to risk-taking in the banking industry?," Journal of Financial Stability, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).
    8. Vanessa Behrmann & Lars Hornuf & Jochen Zimmermann, 2021. "Disclosure Deregulation of Quarterly Reporting," CESifo Working Paper Series 9344, CESifo.
    9. Ralf Ewert & Alfred Wagenhofer, 2019. "Effects of Increasing Enforcement on Financial Reporting Quality and Audit Quality," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 57(1), pages 121-168, March.
    10. Donal Byard & Masako Darrough & Jangwon Suh, 2021. "Re-examining the impact of mandatory IFRS adoption on IPO underpricing," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 26(4), pages 1344-1389, December.
    11. Marius Gros & Alexander Nevrela, 2020. "Revisiting the effectiveness of the German accounting enforcement reforms: a replication study," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 70(1), pages 135-164, February.
    12. Vlad‐Andrei Porumb & Abe De Jong & Carel Huijgen & Teye Marra & Jan Van Dalen, 2021. "The Effect of Auditor Style on Reporting Quality: Evidence from Germany," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 57(1), pages 1-26, March.
    13. Fülbier, Rolf Uwe & Klein, Malte, 2013. "Financial accounting and reporting in Germany: A case study on German accounting tradition and experiences with the IFRS adoption," Bayreuth Working Papers on Finance, Accounting and Taxation (FAcT-Papers) 2013-01, University of Bayreuth, Chair of Finance and Banking.
    14. Solomon Opare & Muhammad Nurul Houqe & Tony van Zijl, 2021. "Meta‐analysis of the Impact of Adoption of IFRS on Financial Reporting Comparability, Market Liquidity, and Cost of Capital," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 57(3), pages 502-556, September.
    15. Alberto Quagli & Francesco Avallone & Paola Ramassa & Lorenzo Motta, 2018. "Measuring the Effectiveness of National Enforcers in the IFRS Context: A Proactive Approach," International Business Research, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 11(6), pages 151-164, June.

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