IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/sae/sagope/v14y2024i3p21582440241266974.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Impact of Covid-19 on Earnings Management: Empirical Evidence from Vietnam

Author

Listed:
  • Anh Tuan Dang
  • Nguyen Ngoc Khanh Dung

Abstract

Earnings management (EM) is the practice of adjusting profits or earnings on financial statements at the discretion of the management. This study undertook a regression analysis of the earnings management model, with data from 300 non-financial listed companies on the Vietnamese stock exchange during the period 2016 to 2021 to determine whether the COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on earnings management. To estimate earnings management, compared with the original model, we add the leverage variable (LV) was used as earnings management proxy in this research. The results show that the COVID-19 pandemic positively and significantly impact the earnings management of non-financial listed companies. Moreover, it was found that managers are more involved in real earnings management than accrual earnings management, implying that financially distressed firms need to reassure investors to raise more capital during the pandemic. However, there is no evidence of a trade-off between these two techniques during the pandemic compared to before the pandemic. Additionally, this study provides evidence that the model by Roychowdhury, following Cohen et al., and the performance-matched model by Jones, following Kothari et al. are more suitable for detecting EM behavior when factoring in the financial leverage (LV) variable for firms with a high debt ratio in developing countries. JEL Classification : H8, M42

Suggested Citation

  • Anh Tuan Dang & Nguyen Ngoc Khanh Dung, 2024. "The Impact of Covid-19 on Earnings Management: Empirical Evidence from Vietnam," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(3), pages 21582440241, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:sagope:v:14:y:2024:i:3:p:21582440241266974
    DOI: 10.1177/21582440241266974
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/21582440241266974
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1177/21582440241266974?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bergstresser, Daniel & Philippon, Thomas, 2006. "CEO incentives and earnings management," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 80(3), pages 511-529, June.
    2. Boyoung Kim & Hyojin Kim & Youngok Jeon, 2018. "Critical Success Factors of a Design Startup Business," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-15, August.
    3. Jiraporn, Pornsit & Miller, Gary A. & Yoon, Soon Suk & Kim, Young S., 2008. "Is earnings management opportunistic or beneficial? An agency theory perspective," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 17(3), pages 622-634, June.
    4. Heba Ali & Hala M.G. Amin & Diana Mostafa & Ehab K.A. Mohamed, 2022. "Earnings management and investor protection during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence from G-12 countries," Managerial Auditing Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 37(7), pages 775-797, January.
    5. Graham, John R. & Harvey, Campbell R. & Rajgopal, Shiva, 2005. "The economic implications of corporate financial reporting," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 40(1-3), pages 3-73, December.
    6. Yew Ming Chia & Irvine Lapsley & Hing‐Wah Lee, 2007. "Choice of auditors and earnings management during the Asian financial crisis," Managerial Auditing Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 22(2), pages 177-196, January.
    7. Arthur, Neal & Tang, Qingliang & Lin, Zhiwei (Stanley), 2015. "Corporate accruals quality during the 2008–2010 Global Financial Crisis," Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, Elsevier, vol. 25(C), pages 1-15.
    8. repec:eme:maj000:maj-07-2021-3232 is not listed on IDEAS
    9. Guoping Liu & Jerry Sun, 2022. "The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on earnings management and the value relevance of earnings: US evidence," Managerial Auditing Journal, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 37(7), pages 850-868, February.
    10. Niels Joachim Gormsen & Ralph S J Koijen & Nikolai Roussanov, 0. "Coronavirus: Impact on Stock Prices and Growth Expectations," The Review of Asset Pricing Studies, Society for Financial Studies, vol. 10(4), pages 574-597.
    11. Leuz, Christian & Nanda, Dhananjay & Wysocki, Peter D., 2003. "Earnings management and investor protection: an international comparison," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 69(3), pages 505-527, September.
    12. Katherine A. Gunny, 2010. "The Relation Between Earnings Management Using Real Activities Manipulation and Future Performance: Evidence from Meeting Earnings Benchmarks," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(3), pages 855-888, September.
    13. Fields, Thomas D. & Lys, Thomas Z. & Vincent, Linda, 2001. "Empirical research on accounting choice," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 31(1-3), pages 255-307, September.
    14. Jones, Jj, 1991. "Earnings Management During Import Relief Investigations," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(2), pages 193-228.
    15. Riadh Garfatta & Mouna Hamza & Imen Zorgati, 2023. "COVID-19 outbreak and earnings management practice: case of Tunisia," Asian Journal of Accounting Research, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 8(3), pages 307-318, April.
    16. Riccardo Cimini, 2015. "How has the financial crisis affected earnings management? A European study," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 47(3), pages 302-317, January.
    17. repec:eme:mfppss:v:39:y:2013:i:2:p:155-180 is not listed on IDEAS
    18. Daniel Cohen & Shailendra Pandit & Charles E. Wasley & Tzachi Zach, 2020. "Measuring Real Activity Management†," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 37(2), pages 1172-1198, June.
    19. Ozili, Peterson & Arun, Thankom, 2020. "Spillover of COVID-19: Impact on the Global Economy," MPRA Paper 99317, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    20. DeAngelo, Harry & DeAngelo, Linda & Skinner, Douglas J., 1994. "Accounting choice in troubled companies," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 17(1-2), pages 113-143, January.
    21. Cohen, Daniel A. & Zarowin, Paul, 2010. "Accrual-based and real earnings management activities around seasoned equity offerings," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 50(1), pages 2-19, May.
    22. repec:eme:maj000:maj-05-2021-3149 is not listed on IDEAS
    23. Eduardo da Silva Flores & Joelson Oliveira Sampaio & Aziz Xavier Beiruth & Talles Vianna Brugni, 2023. "Earnings management during the COVID-19 crisis: evidence from the Brazilian and American capital markets," Journal of Accounting in Emerging Economies, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 13(4), pages 760-783, January.
    24. Ioannis Dokas & Christos Leontidis & Nicolaos Eriotis & Konstantinos Hazakis, 2021. "Earnings Management. An overview of the relative literature," Bulletin of Applied Economics, Risk Market Journals, vol. 8(2), pages 25-55.
    25. Michael Kirschenheiter & Nahum D. Melumad, 2002. "Can “Big Bath” and Earnings Smoothing Co‐exist as Equilibrium Financial Reporting Strategies?," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(3), pages 761-796, June.
    26. Persakis, Anthony & Iatridis, George Emmanuel, 2016. "Audit quality, investor protection and earnings management during the financial crisis of 2008: An international perspective," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 73-101.
    27. Dao Van Hung & Nguyen Thi Minh Hue & Vu Thuy Duong, 2021. "The Impact of COVID-19 on Stock Market Returns in Vietnam," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-16, September.
    28. Ahmad-Zaluki, Nurwati A. & Campbell, Kevin & Goodacre, Alan, 2011. "Earnings management in Malaysian IPOs: The East Asian crisis, ownership control, and post-IPO performance," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 46(2), pages 111-137, June.
    29. Ahsan Habib & Dinithi Ranasinghe & Julia Yonghua Wu & Pallab Kumar Biswas & Fawad Ahmad, 2022. "Real earnings management: A review of the international literature," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 62(4), pages 4279-4344, December.
    30. Smales, L.A., 2021. "Investor attention and global market returns during the COVID-19 crisis," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    31. Filip, Andrei & Raffournier, Bernard, 2014. "Financial Crisis And Earnings Management: The European Evidence," The International Journal of Accounting, Elsevier, vol. 49(4), pages 455-478.
    32. Martin Walker, 2013. "How far can we trust earnings numbers? What research tells us about earnings management," Accounting and Business Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 43(4), pages 445-481, August.
    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. Aljughaiman, Abdullah A. & Nguyen, Tam Huy & Trinh, Vu Quang & Du, Anqi, 2023. "The Covid-19 outbreak, corporate financial distress and earnings management," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    2. Kałdoński, Michał & Jewartowski, Tomasz & Mizerka, Jacek, 2020. "Capital market pressure, real earnings management, and institutional ownership stability - Evidence from Poland," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    3. Md Helal Uddin*, 2024. "CEO Compensation and Earnings Management-The Moderating Role of COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from Bangladesh," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 8(1), pages 1605-1622, January.
    4. Joanna Lizińska & Leszek Czapiewski, 2023. "Earnings Management amid the COVID-19 Financial Crisis: The Experience of Poland," Gospodarka Narodowa. The Polish Journal of Economics, Warsaw School of Economics, issue 1, pages 93-112.
    5. Li, Ting & Zaiats, Nataliya, 2017. "Information environment and earnings management of dual class firms around the world," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 1-23.
    6. Seraina C. Anagnostopoulou & Andrianos E. Tsekrekos, 2017. "The effect of financial leverage on real and accrual-based earnings management," Accounting and Business Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 47(2), pages 191-236, February.
    7. Alessandro Paolo Rigamonti & Giulio Greco & Mariarita Pierotti & Alessandro Capocchi, 2024. "Macroeconomic uncertainty and earnings management: evidence from commodity firms," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 62(4), pages 1615-1649, May.
    8. Özgür, Arslan-Ayaydin & Thewissen, James & Torsin, Wouter, 2021. "Earnings Management Methods and CEO Political Affiliation," LIDAM Discussion Papers LFIN 2021017, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain Finance (LFIN).
    9. Ng, Jeffrey & Wu, Hong & Zhai, Weihuan & Zhao, Jing, 2021. "The effect of shareholder activism on earnings management: Evidence from shareholder proposals11We appreciate the helpful comments and suggestions from Stephen Taylor, Gary Biddle, Santosh Ramalingego," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).
    10. Muhammad Kaleem Khan & Yixuan Qin & Chengsi Zhang, 2022. "Financial structure and earnings manipulation activities in China," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 45(8), pages 2593-2621, August.
    11. Ramesh Chandra Das & Sarthak Kumar Jena, 2016. "Earnings Management and Equity Issue Firms: A Study in Indian Context," Jindal Journal of Business Research, , vol. 5(1), pages 64-85, June.
    12. Nguyet T. M. Nguyen & Abdullah Iqbal & Radha K. Shiwakoti, 2022. "The context of earnings management and its ability to predict future stock returns," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 59(1), pages 123-169, July.
    13. Michael J. Ahearne & Jeffrey P. Boichuk & Craig J. Chapman & Thomas J. Steenburgh, 2016. "Real Earnings Management in Sales," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 54(5), pages 1233-1266, December.
    14. Chang, Chu-Hsuan & Lin, Hsiou-Wei William, 2018. "Does there prevail momentum in earnings management for seasoned equity offering firms?," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 111-129.
    15. Bill Hu & Joon Ho Hwang & Christine Jiang, 2014. "The Impact of Earnings Guidance Cessation on Information Asymmetry," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 41(1-2), pages 73-99, January.
    16. Nagar, Neerav & Sen, Kaustav, 2016. "Earnings Management Strategies during Financial Distress," IIMA Working Papers WP2016-02-03, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Research and Publication Department.
    17. Lauren M. Cunningham & Bret A. Johnson & E. Scott Johnson & Ling Lei Lisic, 2020. "The Switch‐Up: An Examination of Changes in Earnings Management after Receiving SEC Comment Letters†," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 37(2), pages 917-944, June.
    18. Iatridis, George & Kadorinis, George, 2009. "Earnings management and firm financial motives: A financial investigation of UK listed firms," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 18(4), pages 164-173, September.
    19. Julia Sawicki & Keshab Shrestha, 2014. "Misvaluation and Insider Trading Incentives for Accrual-based and Real Earnings Management," Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 41(7-8), pages 926-949, September.
    20. Davis, Frederick & Khadivar, Hamed, 2024. "Accrual and real earnings management by rumored takeover targets," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    earnings management; financial reporting; COVID-19; ROA;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H8 - Public Economics - - Miscellaneous Issues
    • M42 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Accounting - - - Auditing

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    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:sae:sagope:v:14:y:2024:i:3:p:21582440241266974. 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: SAGE Publications (email available below). General contact details of provider: .

    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.