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Political Connections and Accounting Quality under High Expropriation Risk

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  • George Batta
  • Ricardo Sucre Heredia
  • Marc Weidenmier

Abstract

We examine the impact of political connections and accounting quality among Venezuelan industrial firms, which face one of the highest levels of expropriation risk worldwide. Based on prior literature, we expect a negative relationship between expropriation risk and accounting quality as firms manage earnings to avoid 'benign' state intervention. We find that politically connected firms have higher accounting quality than non-connected firms, which is consistent with connected firms' lower risk of expropriation due to connections with high-level government officials or ruling party members. The relationship between accounting quality and political connections appears to be strongly moderated by institutional features like expropriation risk.

Suggested Citation

  • George Batta & Ricardo Sucre Heredia & Marc Weidenmier, 2014. "Political Connections and Accounting Quality under High Expropriation Risk," European Accounting Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(4), pages 485-517, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:euract:v:23:y:2014:i:4:p:485-517
    DOI: 10.1080/09638180.2014.906316
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    2. Li, Mingsheng & Liu, Desheng & Peng, Hongfeng & Zhang, Luxiu, 2022. "Political connection and its impact on equity market," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    3. Lela Nurlaela Wati & Ramdany & Momon, 2020. "Does corporate governance affect financial reporting quality of politically connected firms?," Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues, VsI Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Center, vol. 7(3), pages 2126-2143, March.
    4. Romero, Jorge A., 2022. "Lobbying and political expenses: Complements or substitutes?," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 558-575.
    5. David Adeabah & Charles Andoh & Simplice A. Asongu & Isaac Akomea-Frimpong, 2021. "Elections, Political Connections and Cash Holdings: Evidence from Local Assemblies," Working Papers of the African Governance and Development Institute. 21/004, African Governance and Development Institute..
    6. Cheung, Yan-Leung & Rau, P. Raghavendra & Stouraitis, Aris & Tan, Weiqiang, 2021. "Does the market understand the ex ante risk of expropriation by controlling shareholders?," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    7. 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.
    8. Ole‐Kristian Hope & Heng Yue & Qinlin Zhong, 2020. "China's Anti‐Corruption Campaign and Financial Reporting Quality†," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 37(2), pages 1015-1043, June.
    9. Tzu-Ching Weng & Kai-Jui Hsu & Tzu-Hsuan Kuo, 2023. "Family Succession and Quality of Financial Information: Evidence from China," Advances in Management and Applied Economics, SCIENPRESS Ltd, vol. 13(3), pages 1-4.
    10. Qian, Wei & Chen, Xuan, 2021. "Corporate environmental disclosure and political connection in regulatory and leadership changes: The case of China," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 53(1).
    11. Khanh Hoang & Thanh Tat Tran & Hien Thi Thu Tran & Anh Quoc Le, 2022. "Do different political connections affect financial reporting quality differently? Evidence from Malaysia," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(2), pages 289-300, March.
    12. Yacine Belghitar & Ephraim Clark & Abubakr Saeed, 2019. "Political connections and corporate financial decision making," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 53(4), pages 1099-1133, November.
    13. Tahiru Azaaviele Liedong & Jedrzej George Frynas, 2018. "Investment Climate Constraints as Determinants of Political Tie Intensity in Emerging Countries: Evidence from Foreign Firms in Ghana," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 58(5), pages 675-703, October.
    14. Song, Siwen & Jun, Aelee & Ma, Shiguang, 2021. "Corruption exposure, political disconnection, and their impact on Chinese family firms," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 17(3).

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