Earnings Management to Avoid Additional Disclosures: Evidence from Germany
July 9, 2013 Leave a comment
Earnings Management to Avoid Additional Disclosures: Evidence from Germany
Joerg R. Werner Frankfurt School of Finance & Management gemeinnützige GmbH
Hanno Dachwitz Frankfurt School of Finance & Management gemeinnützige GmbH
March 28, 2013
Abstract:
This paper sheds light on measures undertaken by firms to avoid additional mandatory disclosure requirements. Basically, the firms analyzed in our setting have a choice between laying off employees or exerting some kind of earnings management to avoid increased disclosures. Based on a sample of German firms, we empirically show that earnings management is more likely to occur compared to other measures under such circumstances. The paper contributes to the literature dealing with costs of mandatory disclosures.