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Bank earnings smoothing, audit quality and procyclicality in Africa

Author

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  • Peterson K. Ozili

Abstract

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine whether the way African banks use loan loss provisions (LLP) to smooth earnings is influenced by capital market motivations and the type of auditor, after controlling for non-discretionary determinants of provisions and fluctuations in the business cycle. Design/methodology/approach - To test the income smoothing hypothesis, the model was estimated using panel least square with White’s robust standard error correction, as well as, with and without period fixed effect. Findings - The findings support the income smoothing hypothesis and indicate that African banks use LLP to smooth earnings; listed African banks use LLP to smooth earnings to a greater extent compared to non-listed African banks, possibly, for capital market reasons; income smoothing via LLP is not reduced among African banks with Big 4 auditors; and after controlling for macroeconomic fluctuation, there is evidence that bank provisioning is procyclical with fluctuations in the business cycle. Research limitations/implications - The findings have three implications. One, listed African banks smooth income because they are more visible to investors; investors do not view stock price fluctuations as a good signal. Securities market regulators in African countries should enforce strict disclosure rules that reduce earnings smoothing practices to improve the transparency of bank earnings in the region. Two, the presence of a Big 4 auditor did not improve the informativeness of LLP estimates among African banks. Three, the evidence for procyclical provisioning suggest the need for dynamic LLP system in Africa. Originality/value - This paper is the first cross-country African study to investigate whether provisions-based income smoothing decreases with the presence of a Big 4 auditor. The findings indicate that this is not the case among African banks.

Suggested Citation

  • Peterson K. Ozili, 2017. "Bank earnings smoothing, audit quality and procyclicality in Africa," Review of Accounting and Finance, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 16(2), pages 142-161, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:eme:rafpps:raf-12-2015-0188
    DOI: 10.1108/RAF-12-2015-0188
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Peterson K. Ozili, 2017. "Bank Profitability and Capital Regulation: Evidence from Listed and non-Listed Banks in Africa," Journal of African Business, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(2), pages 143-168, April.
    2. Egor Nikulin & Jeff Downing, 2021. "Loan-loss provisions, earnings management, and capital management by Russian banks: the impact of changes in banking regulation and oversight," Eurasian Business Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 11(4), pages 659-677, December.
    3. Ozili, Peterson K, 2019. "Bank Income Smoothing, Institutions and Corruption," MPRA Paper 92339, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Ozili, Peterson K, 2017. "Paying Bank Risk Professionals to Lie About Bank Loan Loss Provisioning Process," MPRA Paper 75354, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    5. Le Ha Thi Thu, 2020. "The Impact of Auditor Specialization and Banks’ Listing Status on Earnings Management in Vietnamese Commercial Banks," Asian Journal of Law and Economics, De Gruyter, vol. 11(1), pages 1-16, April.
    6. Ozili, Peterson K & Outa, Erick R, 2018. "Bank Income Smoothing in South Africa: Role of Ownership, IFRS and Economic fluctuation," MPRA Paper 102567, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Ozili, Peterson K, 2021. "Banking sector earnings management using loan loss provisions in the Fintech era," MPRA Paper 105083, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Ozili, Peterson K, 2021. "Accounting and financial reporting during a pandemic," MPRA Paper 105183, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    9. Ozili, Peterson K, 2020. "Corporate governance research in Nigeria: a review," MPRA Paper 98217, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    10. Ozili, Peterson K, 2019. "Impact of IAS 39 reclassification on income smoothing by European banks," MPRA Paper 97035, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    11. Ozili, Peterson K, 2019. "Impact of IAS 39 reclassification on Income Smoothing by European Banks," MPRA Paper 92098, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    12. Shah, Syed Faisal & Albaity, Mohamed, 2022. "The role of trust, investor sentiment, and uncertainty on bank stock return performance: Evidence from the MENA region," The Journal of Economic Asymmetries, Elsevier, vol. 26(C).
    13. Peterson K. Ozili, 2021. "Corporate governance research in Nigeria: a review," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 1(1), pages 1-32, January.
    14. Ghulame Rubbaniy & Ali Awais Khalid & Stathis Polyzos & Balqees Naser Almessabi, 2022. "Cyclicality of capital adequacy ratios in heterogeneous environment: A nonlinear panel smooth transition regression explanation," Managerial and Decision Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 43(6), pages 1960-1979, September.
    15. Yosra Mnif & Imen Slimi, 2023. "Former auditors on the audit committee and earnings management: Evidence from African banks," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 63(2), pages 2383-2420, June.
    16. Ozili, Peterson K, 2017. "Discretionary Provisioning Practices among Western European Banks," MPRA Paper 92645, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    17. Skała, Dorota, 2020. "Shareholder shocks and loan loss provisions in Central European banks," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    18. Ozili, Peterson Kitakogelu, 2021. "Big 4 auditors, bank earnings management and financial crisis in Africa," MPRA Paper 108608, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    19. Ozili, Peterson Kitakogelu & Adamu, Ahmed, 2021. "Does financial inclusion reduce non-performing loans and loan loss provisions?," MPRA Paper 109321, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    20. Ozili, Peterson K., 2019. "Bank income smoothing, institutions and corruption," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 82-99.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Earnings management; Audit quality; Income smoothing; Dynamic provisioning; Loan loss provisions; Procyclicality; G21; M41; O55; N27;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • M41 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Accounting
    • O55 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Africa
    • N27 - Economic History - - Financial Markets and Institutions - - - Africa; Oceania

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