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Guiding through the Fog: Does annual report readability reveal earnings management?

Author

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  • Ajina, Aymen
  • Laouiti, Mhamed
  • Msolli, Badreddine

Abstract

This paper attempts to find a relationship between earnings management and annual report readability. The study was conducted on the French stock market between 2010 and 2013 and includes 163 firms listed on the CACALL shares index. We assess the readability of annual reports using the Gunning-Fog Index and earnings management is measured by discretionary accruals estimated using the models of Dechow et al. (1995) and Raman and Shahrur (2008). Our results show the existence of a positive and significant relation between the level of discretionary accounting adjustments and Fog Index. In fact, companies managing their earnings tend to make annual report readability more complex. In this way, we also find a significant link between the Fog Index and the other financial indicators of our model (Ownership dispersion, Profitability, Leverage and Firm size), so supporting our main result.

Suggested Citation

  • Ajina, Aymen & Laouiti, Mhamed & Msolli, Badreddine, 2016. "Guiding through the Fog: Does annual report readability reveal earnings management?," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 509-516.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:riibaf:v:38:y:2016:i:c:p:509-516
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ribaf.2016.07.021
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    7. Mousa, Gehan A. & Elamir, Elsayed A.H. & Hussainey, Khaled, 2022. "The effect of annual report narratives on the cost of capital in the Middle East and North Africa: A machine learning approach," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).
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    9. Lin, Sin-Jin & Zeng, Jhih-Hong & Chang, Te-Min & Hsu, Ming-Fu, 2024. "Linguistic complexity consideration for advanced risk decision making and handling," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    10. Li, Hong-Quan & Yang, Yang, 2024. "Can the readability of an annual report forecast negative earnings surprises?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 62(PA).
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Earnings management; Annual report readability; French stock market;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G14 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Information and Market Efficiency; Event Studies; Insider Trading
    • G18 - Financial Economics - - General Financial Markets - - - Government Policy and Regulation
    • M41 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Accounting

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