Prior research shows extant discretionary accrual models are misspecified when applied to firms with unusual performance. Nonetheless, research on earnings management and market efficiency frequently uses these models. We examine the specification and power of tests based on performance-matched...

This study assesses whether the accrual-generating process is adequately described by a linear model with respect to a range of underlying determinants examined by prior literature. We document substantial departures from linearity across the distributions of accrual determinants, including...