While there are many alternative proxies for “earnings quality”, there is little evidence as to what auditors consider to be indicative of high earnings quality. To answer this, we examine the adjustments that auditors require companies to make to earnings during year-end audits. There are three findings. First, audit adjustments serve to increase earnings persistence, smoothness, and accrual q...

When the Revelation Principle (RP) holds, managing earnings confers no advantage over revelation. We construct an explanation for earnings management that is based on limitations on owners’ ability to make commitments (a violation of the RP’s assumptions). Traditionally, earnings management is seen as sneaky managers pulling the wool over the eyes of gullible owners by manipulating accruals; ou...

Security analysts generally provide forecasts of earnings for the current period as well as oneyear ahead earnings at fiscal year end. In this study, we derive an estimation procedure, which infers forecast bias from equivalent price expressions that utilize different horizon earnings forecasts. It is well documented that analyst long-horizon earnings forecasts tend to be more optimistic (ex po...

the main purpose of the present research is to determine the relationship between the management earnings forecast errors and conservatism level and then surveying about the effects of forecast difficulty, and external financing on this relationship. regarding this, the financial information related to 147 stock firms, available during the period of study (2003-2015) were collected and analyzed...

received additional monthly benefits because of the increase in the exempt amount. Further increases in the exempt amount would undoubtedly continue to be accompanied by even more rapid increases in the proportion of 4-quarter workers, including full-time workers, who would be able to draw benefits. One of the inequities of the retirement test before the 1954 amendments was the dual exemption g...

Between 1973 and 1987, men's average earnings declined and the percentage of men with low earnings (defined as annual earnings less than $12,000 a year) increased for whites, blacks, and Hispanics. We estimate regression models for the level and distribution of male earnings for each of these three groups using data from the 1974, 1980, and 1988 March Current Population Surveys. Much of the dec...

Earnings nonresponse in household surveys is widespread, yet there is limited evidence on whether and how nonresponse bias affects measured earnings. This paper examines the patterns and consequences of nonresponse using internal Current Population Survey individual records linked to administrative Social Security Administrative data on earnings for calendar years 2005-2010. Our findings confir...

We identify a novel aspect of potential collaboration between targets and acquirers in managing earnings during mergers and acquisitions. Using a sample of 2,128 mergers & acquisitions from 1985-2010, we find that target firms report lower earnings for quarters during the “quiet” period between announcement and completion of these deals. Targets‟ reduced earnings are due mainly to higher expens...

Earnings nonresponse in household surveys is widespread, yet there is limited evidence on whether and how nonresponse bias affects measured earnings. This paper examines the patterns and consequences of nonresponse using internal Current Population Survey individual records linked to administrative Social Security Administrative data on earnings for calendar years 2005-2010. Our findings confir...