This paper investigates the impact of Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) on managers' earnings management choices (i.e., accrual management and real earnings management). Specifically, I investigate whether firms reduce their use of accrual management and increase their use of real earnings management...

Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangibles (FASB 2001) altered the treatment of goodwill by replacing the systematic amortization of goodwill with impairment testing. This change affected earnings in two ways by requiring many firms to take sizable...