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Nexus between corporate social responsibility and earnings management: Sustainable or opportunistic

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  • Sadaf Ehsan
  • Adeel Tariq
  • Mian Sajid Nazir
  • Malik Shahzad Shabbir
  • Rizwan Shabbir
  • Lydia Bares Lopez
  • Wasim Ullah

Abstract

This study examines the association between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and earnings management (EM) among manufacturing firms from a developing economy, Pakistan. To deal with the CSR measurement and data bias, a multimethod approach has applied to measure CSR (both qualitative and quantitative approaches). This research has also established CSR disclosure indices and CSR monetary spending ratio (CSR MSR). Moreover, this research examines both types of EM (accrual‐based as well as real activities‐based) and used annual data set from 2009 to 2018 for 160 nonfinancial firms. For empirical analysis, the two‐stage least square (2SLS) and pooled ordinary least square (POLS) regressions are used. This study finds a negative relationship between CSR and EM, and it supports the notion that firms' commitment to CSR is largely driven by long‐term perspective. However, with respect to each measure of EM and CSR, this relationship is asymmetric.

Suggested Citation

  • Sadaf Ehsan & Adeel Tariq & Mian Sajid Nazir & Malik Shahzad Shabbir & Rizwan Shabbir & Lydia Bares Lopez & Wasim Ullah, 2022. "Nexus between corporate social responsibility and earnings management: Sustainable or opportunistic," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(2), pages 478-495, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:mgtdec:v:43:y:2022:i:2:p:478-495
    DOI: 10.1002/mde.3396
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    2. Haishi Li & Youxue Jiang & Anam Ashiq & Asma Salman & Mohammad Haseeb & Malik Shahzad Shabbir, 2023. "The role of technological innovation, strategy, firms performance, and firms size and their aggregate impact on organizational structure," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 44(4), pages 2010-2020, June.
    3. Manish Bansal, 2024. "Unpacking the drivers of earnings management in CSR firms: influence of investor risk perception," International Journal of Disclosure and Governance, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 21(1), pages 127-142, March.
    4. Tomas Kliestik & Alena Novak Sedlackova & Martin Bugaj & Andrej Novak, 2022. "Stability of profits and earnings management in the transport sector of Visegrad countries," Oeconomia Copernicana, Institute of Economic Research, vol. 13(2), pages 475-509, June.
    5. Chaima Kouba & Anis Ben Amar & Maali Kachouri, 2024. "Earnings Management and Corporate Social Responsibility: Moderating Effect of Managerial Entrenchment Evidence from France," International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), vol. 0(1), pages 60-86.

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