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Connecting earnings management and corporate social responsibility: A renewed perspective

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  • Roberto Maglio
  • Andrea Rey
  • Francesco Agliata
  • Rosa Lombardi

Abstract

This paper aims at discovering the association between earnings management (EM) and gender diversity in boards of directors as a predictor of the corporate social performance (CSP) of non‐smallmedium‐sized enterprises in the context of corporate social responsibility (CSR). The existence of a broad literature on the topic allows us to assess EM and its relations with CSR. We used an OLS regression analysis and the accrual quality measure as an EM proxy to investigate our sample of 697 Italian non‐small and medium‐sized enterprises. Our main results reveal that the presence of women on boards of directors results in the adoption of fewer EM practices. Therefore, our empirical findings support the notion that boardroom gender diversity as an instrument of CSP reduces the use of EM practices. The results of this paper are of most relevance to policymakers and academic communities focused on promoting CSP and CSR.

Suggested Citation

  • Roberto Maglio & Andrea Rey & Francesco Agliata & Rosa Lombardi, 2020. "Connecting earnings management and corporate social responsibility: A renewed perspective," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(2), pages 1108-1116, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:corsem:v:27:y:2020:i:2:p:1108-1116
    DOI: 10.1002/csr.1868
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    2. Megumi Suto & Hitoshi Takehara, 2020. "Corporate social responsibility intensity, management earnings forecast accuracy, and investor trust: Evidence from Japan," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(6), pages 3047-3059, November.
    3. Stefania Veltri & Romilda Mazzotta & Franco Ernesto Rubino, 2021. "Board diversity and corporate social performance: Does the family firm status matter?," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 28(6), pages 1664-1679, November.
    4. Roman Blazek & Pavol Durana & Katarina Valaskova, 2020. "Creative Accounting as an Apparatus for Reporting Profits in Agribusiness," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-19, October.
    5. Bomi Song, 2022. "The Influence of Audit-Committee Characteristics on the Association between Corporate Social Responsibility and Earnings Quality," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-16, August.

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