Do Indian firms manage earnings to avoid losses? Online publication date: Thu, 03-Mar-2022
by Rachappa Shette; Sudershan Kuntluru; Ajit Dayanandan
International Journal of Corporate Governance (IJCG), Vol. 12, No. 3/4, 2021
Abstract: The present study examines whether managers of Indian firms focus on avoiding losses and how they avoid reporting losses, based on 1,725 non-financial firms listed on National Stock Exchange of India from 2001 to 2019. The earnings distribution approach is employed to determine if firms manage earnings to avoid losses. The empirical analysis is performed using various scaling measures and width of class intervals. The study finds profound evidence for the existence of earnings management to avoid losses. The earnings management level is higher in the year subsequent to reporting positive earnings in one or two years. It also finds that the higher level of current assets and current liabilities and cash flow from operations are used as major components to avoid losses. The empirical evidence supports the analytical foundation of cumulative prospect theory. The findings are useful to regulators, investors, and managers in making an effective decision.
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