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The Economic Consequences of Accounting Fraud in Product Markets: Theory and a Case from the U.S. Telecommunications Industry (WorldCom)

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  • Gil Sadka

Abstract

This article studies the effects of accounting fraud on the product market. The model presented in this article relies on the idea that a firm's financial statements and actions must be consistent with each other. If the firm is behaving fraudulently, insofar as its financial statements portray it as relatively efficient, the firm must act accordingly, that is, increase its market share and/or reduce its prices. If the firm does not behave in keeping with its fraudulent financials, the market would be able to identify the fraud. As such, the manager will take actions and make pricing decisions that are not optimal. These actions can have a significant adverse effect on social welfare. This article utilizes the WorldCom case to illustrate the implications of such fraudulent behavior and its economic significance in product markets. Copyright 2006, Oxford University Press.

Suggested Citation

  • Gil Sadka, 2006. "The Economic Consequences of Accounting Fraud in Product Markets: Theory and a Case from the U.S. Telecommunications Industry (WorldCom)," American Law and Economics Review, American Law and Economics Association, vol. 8(3), pages 439-475.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:amlawe:v:8:y:2006:i:3:p:439-475
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/aler/ahl012
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    Cited by:

    1. Johnson, William C. & Xie, Wenjuan & Yi, Sangho, 2014. "Corporate fraud and the value of reputations in the product market," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 25(C), pages 16-39.
    2. Ray Ball, 2009. "Market and Political/Regulatory Perspectives on the Recent Accounting Scandals," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(2), pages 277-323, May.
    3. Oxelheim, Lars, 2019. "Optimal vs satisfactory transparency: The impact of global macroeconomic fluctuations on corporate competitiveness," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(1), pages 190-206.
    4. Dasgupta, Sudipto & Banerjee, Shantanu & SHI, RUI & Yan, Jiali, 2021. "Information Complementarities and the Dynamics of Transparency Shock Spillovers," CEPR Discussion Papers 15658, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    5. Beatty, Anne & Liao, Scott & Yu, Jeff Jiewei, 2013. "The spillover effect of fraudulent financial reporting on peer firms' investments," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 55(2), pages 183-205.
    6. Pulina, Manuela & Paba, Antonello, 2010. "A discrete choice approach to model credit card fraud," MPRA Paper 20019, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Choi, Jung Ho & Gipper, Brandon, 2019. "Fraudulent Financial Reporting and the Consequences for Employees," Research Papers 3771, Stanford University, Graduate School of Business.
    8. Biehl, Henrike & Bleibtreu, Christopher & Stefani, Ulrike, 2024. "The real effects of financial reporting: Evidence and suggestions for future research," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 54(C).
    9. Art Durnev & Claudine Mangen, 2009. "Corporate Investments: Learning from Restatements," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(3), pages 679-720, June.
    10. Durnev, Art & Mangen, Claudine, 2020. "The spillover effects of MD&A disclosures for real investment: The role of industry competition," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(1).
    11. Stephen Glaeser & James D. Omartian, 2022. "Public Firm Presence, Financial Reporting, and the Decline of U.S. Manufacturing," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 60(3), pages 1085-1130, June.
    12. Brent Lao & Sheng Yi, 2021. "Financial misreporting and peer firms' operational efficiency," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 61(1), pages 387-413, March.
    13. Ormazabal, Gaizka & Badia, Marc & Duro, Miguel & Jorgensen, Bjorn N., 2017. "Market-wide Effects of Off-Balance Sheet Disclosures:," CEPR Discussion Papers 12152, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    14. Savita Sahay & Harry ZviDavis & Meyer Peikes, 2012. "Earnings Management and Auditor Quality," Accounting and Finance Research, Sciedu Press, vol. 1(1), pages 1-38, May.

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