IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v14y2022i22p15452-d979305.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Which Is More Concerning for Accounting Professionals-Personal Risk or Professional Risk?

Author

Listed:
  • Saeid Homayoun

    (Department of Economics and Business Studies, University of Gavle, 801 76 Gävle, Sweden)

  • Vahid Molla Imeny

    (Department of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad 9177948974, Iran)

  • Mahdi Salehi

    (Department of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad 9177948974, Iran)

  • Mahdi Moradi

    (Department of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad 9177948974, Iran)

  • Simon Norton

    (Department of Cardiff Business School, University of Cardiff, Cardiff CF10 3AT, UK)

Abstract

Personal and professional risks have been considered separately in research. However, these two concepts have not so far been investigated in research together. In this study, we first tested the importance of these two risks for Iranian accounting professionals through trade-off scenarios. The analysis of data gathered from an online survey of 487 Iranian accounting professionals shows that accounting professionals in Iran prefer to avoid personal risk rather than professional risk when facing a choice between personal and professional risk. Iranian accountants and auditors are personal risk averters and professional risk lovers, even though they think they are not risk-averse in their personal lives and not risk takers in their professional lives. Therefore, there is a gap between Iranian accounting professionals’ thoughts about their personal and professional risk aversion and their personal and professional risk aversion in practice. Furthermore, we found significant relationships between accounting professionals’ gender, religiosity, welfare, and personal risk aversion. In addition, there are significant relationships between accounting professionals’ gender and personal and professional risk aversion.

Suggested Citation

  • Saeid Homayoun & Vahid Molla Imeny & Mahdi Salehi & Mahdi Moradi & Simon Norton, 2022. "Which Is More Concerning for Accounting Professionals-Personal Risk or Professional Risk?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-13, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:22:p:15452-:d:979305
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/22/15452/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/22/15452/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Shyam Sunder, 2015. "Risk in Accounting," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 51(4), pages 536-548, December.
    2. Tai-Sen He & Fuhai Hong, 2018. "Risk breeds risk aversion," Experimental Economics, Springer;Economic Science Association, vol. 21(4), pages 815-835, December.
    3. Thomas C. Omer & Nathan Y. Sharp & Dechun Wang, 2018. "The Impact of Religion on the Going Concern Reporting Decisions of Local Audit Offices," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 149(4), pages 811-831, June.
    4. Bill Francis & Iftekhar Hasan & Jong Chool Park & Qiang Wu, 2015. "Gender Differences in Financial Reporting Decision Making: Evidence from Accounting Conservatism," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 32(3), pages 1285-1318, September.
    5. Liqun Liu & Nicolas Treich, 2021. "Optimality of winner-take-all contests: the role of attitudes toward risk," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 63(1), pages 1-25, August.
    6. Bonsang, Eric & Dohmen, Thomas, 2015. "Risk attitude and cognitive aging," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 112-126.
    7. Steven Dellaportas, 2013. "Conversations with inmate accountants: Motivation, opportunity and the fraud triangle," Accounting Forum, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(1), pages 29-39, March.
    8. Joop Hartog & Ada Ferrer‐i‐Carbonell & Nicole Jonker, 2002. "Linking Measured Risk Aversion to Individual Characteristics," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(1), pages 3-26.
    9. Nicos Nicolaou & Scott Shane, 2019. "Common genetic effects on risk-taking preferences and choices," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 59(3), pages 261-279, December.
    10. Adam Ayaita & Kathleen Stürmer, 2020. "Risk aversion and the teaching profession: an analysis including different forms of risk aversion, different control groups, selection and socialization effects," Education Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 28(1), pages 4-25, January.
    11. Gärtner, Manja & Mollerstrom, Johanna & Seim, David, 2017. "Individual risk preferences and the demand for redistribution," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 49-55.
    12. Christian Pfeifer, 2011. "Risk Aversion and Sorting into Public Sector Employment," German Economic Review, Verein für Socialpolitik, vol. 12(1), pages 85-99, February.
    13. Emmanouil Mentzakis & Jana Sadeh, 2021. "Experimental evidence on the effect of incentives and domain in risk aversion and discounting tasks," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 62(3), pages 203-224, June.
    14. Quang Nguyen, 2011. "Does nurture matter: Theory and experimental investigation on the effect of working environment on risk and time preferences," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 43(3), pages 245-270, December.
    15. Timo Heinrich & Jason Shachat, 2020. "The development of risk aversion and prudence in Chinese children and adolescents," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 61(3), pages 263-287, December.
    16. Freed, Roy N., 1969. "Computer fraud-- a management trap : Risks are legal, economic, professional," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 12(3), pages 25-30, June.
    17. repec:cup:judgdm:v:14:y:2019:i:3:p:234-279 is not listed on IDEAS
    18. Ulrich Schmidt & Horst Zank, 2005. "What is Loss Aversion?," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 30(2), pages 157-167, January.
    19. Alison L. Booth & Pamela Katic, 2013. "Cognitive Skills, Gender and Risk Preferences," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 89(284), pages 19-30, March.
    20. Sebastian Ebert & Daniel Wiesen, 2014. "Joint measurement of risk aversion, prudence, and temperance," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 48(3), pages 231-252, June.
    21. Dellaportas, Steven, 2013. "Conversations with inmate accountants: Motivation, opportunity and the fraud triangle," Accounting forum, Elsevier, vol. 37(1), pages 29-39.
    22. Schoemaker, Paul J H, 1993. "Determinants of Risk-Taking: Behavioral and Economic Views," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 6(1), pages 49-73, January.
    23. Maung, Min & Tang, Zhenyang & Wilson, Craig & Xu, Xiaowei, 2021. "Religion, risk aversion, and cross border mergers and acquisitions," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    24. Di Mauro, Carmela & Musumeci, Rosy, 2011. "Linking risk aversion and type of employment," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 40(5), pages 490-495.
    25. Arianna Galliera & E. Elisabet Rutström, 2021. "Crowded out: Heterogeneity in risk attitudes among poor households in the US," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 63(2), pages 103-132, October.
    26. Clive S. Lennox & Asad Kausar, 2017. "Estimation risk and auditor conservatism," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 22(1), pages 185-216, March.
    27. Gregory W. Fischer & M. Granger Morgan & Baruch Fischhoff & Indira Nair & Lester B. Lave, 1991. "What Risks Are People Concerned About," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 11(2), pages 303-314, June.
    28. Maria Ishaque, 2021. "Managing Conflict of Interests in Professional Accounting Firms: A Research Synthesis," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 169(3), pages 537-555, March.
    29. Hardies, Kris & Breesch, Diane & Branson, Joël, 2013. "Gender differences in overconfidence and risk taking: Do self-selection and socialization matter?," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 118(3), pages 442-444.
    30. Hoitash, Rani & Hoitash, Udi & Kurt, Ahmet C., 2016. "Do accountants make better chief financial officers?," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 61(2), pages 414-432.
    31. Steven Toms, 2019. "Financial scandals: a historical overview," Accounting and Business Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 49(5), pages 477-499, July.
    32. Charness, Gary & Gneezy, Uri, 2012. "Strong Evidence for Gender Differences in Risk Taking," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 83(1), pages 50-58.
    33. Qihui Gong & Xiaomei Han & Huihui Shen & Qiuhang Xing, 2021. "Do professional risk funds affect audit quality?," Accounting and Business Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 51(6-7), pages 777-799, November.
    34. Don Bellante & Albert N. Link, 1981. "Are Public Sector Workers More Risk Averse Than Private Sector Workers?," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 34(3), pages 408-412, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Daniel H. Bowen & Stuart Buck & Cary Deck & Jonathan N. Mills & James V. Shuls, 2015. "Risky business: an analysis of teacher risk preferences," Education Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(4), pages 470-480, August.
    2. Maczulskij, Terhi, 2013. "Employment sector and pay gaps: Genetic and environmental influences," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 23(C), pages 89-96.
    3. Buurman, Margaretha & Delfgaauw, Josse & Dur, Robert & Van den Bossche, Seth, 2012. "Public sector employees: Risk averse and altruistic?," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 83(3), pages 279-291.
    4. Jung, SeEun & Choe, Chung & Oaxaca, Ronald L., 2018. "Gender wage gaps and risky vs. secure employment: An experimental analysis," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 112-121.
    5. Terhi Maczulskij, 2015. "High education and public sector employment: Evidence from Finland using data on twins," Working Papers 296, Työn ja talouden tutkimus LABORE, The Labour Institute for Economic Research LABORE.
    6. De Paola Maria, 2013. "The Determinants of Risk Aversion: The Role of Intergenerational Transmission," German Economic Review, De Gruyter, vol. 14(2), pages 214-234, May.
    7. Sean Nicholson-Crotty & Jill Nicholson-Crotty & Sean Webeck, 2019. "Are public managers more risk averse? Framing effects and status quo bias across the sectors," Journal of Behavioral Public Administration, Center for Experimental and Behavioral Public Administration, vol. 2(1).
    8. Noah C. Dormady & Robert T. Greenbaum & Kim A. Young, 2021. "An experimental investigation of resilience decision making in repeated disasters," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 41(4), pages 556-576, December.
    9. Dang, Duc Anh, 2012. "On the sources of risk preferences in rural Vietnam," MPRA Paper 38738, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    10. Molnár, György & Kapitány, Zsuzsa, 2013. "Munkahely a közszférában. Biztonság és hivatás, a szubjektív szempontok szerepe [Public sector employment. Security and social mission- the role of subjective aspects]," Közgazdasági Szemle (Economic Review - monthly of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences), Közgazdasági Szemle Alapítvány (Economic Review Foundation), vol. 0(7), pages 781-813.
    11. Schopohl, Lisa & Urquhart, Andrew & Zhang, Hanxiong, 2021. "Female CFOs, leverage and the moderating role of board diversity and CEO power," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    12. Terhi Maczulskij, 2015. "Who chooses to become a public sector employee?," Working Papers 301, Työn ja talouden tutkimus LABORE, The Labour Institute for Economic Research LABORE.
    13. Insoo Cho & Peter F. Orazem, 2021. "How endogenous risk preferences and sample selection affect analysis of firm survival," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 56(4), pages 1309-1332, April.
    14. Raziiakhan Abdieva & Burulcha Sulaimanova & Kamalbek Karymshakov, 2019. "Gender differences, risk attitude and entrepreneurship in Kyrgyzstan," Economics and Business Letters, Oviedo University Press, vol. 8(1), pages 17-30.
    15. Krčál, Ondřej & Staněk, Rostislav & Slanicay, Martin, 2019. "Made for the job or by the job? A lab-in-the-field experiment with firefighters," Research in Economics, Elsevier, vol. 73(4), pages 271-276.
    16. Said, Jamaliah & Alam, Md. Mahmudul & Karim, Zulyanti Abdul & Johari, Razana Juhaida, 2019. "Integrating Religiosity into Fraud Triangle Theory: Findings on Malaysian Police Officers," SocArXiv sy65n, Center for Open Science.
    17. Wölfel, Oliver & Heineck, Guido, 2012. "Parental risk attitudes and children's secondary school track choice," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(5), pages 727-743.
    18. Andrew E. Clark & Conchita D’Ambrosio & Anthony Lepinteur, 2023. "Marriage as insurance: job protection and job insecurity in France," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 21(4), pages 1157-1190, December.
    19. Thomas Dohmen & Armin Falk & David Huffman & Uwe Sunde, 2018. "On the Relationship between Cognitive Ability and Risk Preference," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 32(2), pages 115-134, Spring.
    20. Luechinger, Simon & Stutzer, Alois & Winkelmann, Rainer, 2006. "The Happiness Gains from Sorting and Matching in the Labor Market," IZA Discussion Papers 2019, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:22:p:15452-:d:979305. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.