We examine whether managers convey more information via voluntary disclosure channels when standard-setters limit managers' discretion in GAAP. We estimate the extent to which standard setters limit managers' discretion by counting the number of times obligatory modal verbs are mentioned in the...

While it is generally accepted that legitimacy is a desirable feature of accounting standards, ‘legitimacy' remains vaguely defined. Accordingly, I develop a model which highlights the role that accounting plays in classifying a manager's strategically structured transactions. The model...

Prior literature finds International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) adopters enjoy lower financing costs subsequent to IFRS adoption. This study extends this literature by examining the effect on the product market. We predict and find that mandatory IFRS adopters exploit lower financing...

In this paper, we analyze the real effect of financial statement tax disclosures on corporate innovation activities. In 2007, the FASB enacted FIN 48, which mandates the separate and more detailed disclosure of reserves for unrecognized tax benefits (UTBs). Using patent applications as a measure...

Using the adoption of SFAS 131 as a shock to segment reporting and a sample of firms that lobbied against the new standard on the grounds of proprietary costs, I test for changes in profitability around SFAS 131 to examine whether reporting mandates affect disclosing firms' competitive position....

I use an accounting reform to assess the agency cost of debt in diversified firms. Firms that switch from single-to-multisegment following the reform suffer a 12% increase in the bond spread than their standalone peers. Consistent with lenders anticipating underinvestment and asset substitution...

In this paper, we examine the possibility that disclosure of non-GAAP earnings allows managers to satisfy market expectations with respect to firm performance without resorting to GAAP earnings management, reducing the aggressiveness of managers' GAAP reporting. In an experiment using...

IASB states that the main objective of financial reporting is to provide information that is useful to investors, creditors and others in making investment, credit and similar resource allocation decisions. This study sought to find out if the adoption of IFRS had affected the financial...