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The role of corporate governance in accounting discretion under IFRS: Goodwill impairment in Australia

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  • Kabir, Humayun
  • Rahman, Asheq

Abstract

A major concern with the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) is the accounting discretion allowed under the IFRS, and its potential opportunistic use by managers. We examine the role of corporate governance in the accounting discretion inherent in goodwill impairment decisions under the IFRS. More specifically, we investigate whether, in Australia, stronger governance strengthens associations between economic factors and goodwill impairment loss but weakens associations between contracting incentives and goodwill impairment loss. Using data from 2007 to 2012, we find evidence consistent with the notion that stronger governance enhances the associations between economic factors and goodwill impairment loss. However, we find that strong governance cannot completely eliminate the opportunistic use of discretion in an impairment decision, especially when pre-impairment income is negative, and when the impairment occurs in the first year of a CEO's tenure. Our results are robust with regard to alternative measures of the dependent variable, firm performance variables, and the governance variable, even after controlling for potential self-selection biases.

Suggested Citation

  • Kabir, Humayun & Rahman, Asheq, 2016. "The role of corporate governance in accounting discretion under IFRS: Goodwill impairment in Australia," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 12(3), pages 290-308.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jocaae:v:12:y:2016:i:3:p:290-308
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jcae.2016.10.001
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    2. Guermazi, Walid & Halioui, Khamoussi, 2020. "Do differences in national cultures affect cross-country conditional conservatism behavior under IFRS?," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 52(C).
    3. Han, Hongwen & Tang, Jiali Jenna & Tang, Qingquan, 2024. "The role of large shareholders in goodwill impairment decisions – Evidence from China," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    4. Mehnaz, Laura & Rahman, Asheq & Kabir, Humayun, 2023. "Covenant violation concern and investors’ pricing of Level 3 fair value adjustments," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 19(3).
    5. Vichitsarawong, Thanyaluk & Eng, Li Li, 2023. "Corporate governance, financial indicators and asset impairments during the COVID-19 pandemic period," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 58(PD).
    6. Hongwen Han & Jiali Jenna Tang & Qingquan Tang, 2021. "Goodwill Impairment, Securities Analysts, and Information Transparency," European Accounting Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 30(4), pages 767-799, August.
    7. Kabir, Humayun & Su, Li & Rahman, Asheq, 2020. "Firm life cycle and the disclosure of estimates and judgments in goodwill impairment tests: Evidence from Australia," Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 16(3).
    8. d'Arcy, Anne & Tarca, Ann, 2018. "Reviewing IFRS Goodwill Accounting Research: Implementation Effects and Cross-Country Differences," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 53(3), pages 203-226.

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