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Voluntary disclosure of accounting ratios and firm-specific characteristics: the case of GCC

Author

Listed:
  • Ayman E. Haddad
  • Fatima Baalbaki Shibly
  • Ruwaidah Haddad

Abstract

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to investigate the voluntary disclosure of accounting ratios in the corporate annual reports of manufacturing firms in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and determines whether an association exists between voluntary disclosure and firm-specific characteristics namely, size, profitability, leverage, liquidity and efficiency. Design/methodology/approach - A sample of 53 GCC listed manufacturing firms and 263 firm-year observations were observed over the period 2011 to 2015. A count data regression (Poisson) with incident rate ratios was used to identify the relationship between firms’ voluntary disclosures of accounting ratios and other firm-specific characteristics. Findings - During the period under review, the voluntary disclosure of accounting ratios provided in annual reports of GCC firms were found to be exceedingly low. On average, a GCC company discloses at most two accounting ratios in its annual reports. The results also show that the profitability ratios are the most popularly reported ones. Controlling for family board domination, the results also reveal that structure-related variables (firm size and leverage) are positively associated with accounting ratio disclosures. However, performance-related variables (profitability, liquidity and efficiency) have no significant effect on disclosures. The authors conclude that signaling theory as implied in the performance-related variables is not strongly supported in the GCC region. Originality/value - This is the first known study to investigate the disclosure of accounting ratios and its determinants within the context of GCC. The findings of this study could be beneficial to both agents and principals in assessing the associated risks. The study provides regulators and market participants an understanding of the corporate reporting activities of manufacturing firms in the GCC and who accordingly will be able to consider associated policy implementation.

Suggested Citation

  • Ayman E. Haddad & Fatima Baalbaki Shibly & Ruwaidah Haddad, 2020. "Voluntary disclosure of accounting ratios and firm-specific characteristics: the case of GCC," Journal of Financial Reporting and Accounting, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 18(2), pages 301-324, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:eme:jfrapp:jfra-04-2019-0055
    DOI: 10.1108/JFRA-04-2019-0055
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Mohammad Saleh Altarawneh, 2023. "How Company Characteristics Influence Measurement Practices and Disclosure Level Prescribed within IAS 41," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-34, May.
    2. Rep Ana, 2021. "Notes to the Financial Statements: Current State and Improvement," Business Systems Research, Sciendo, vol. 12(2), pages 60-78, December.

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