Preprint / Version 1

Regulation and legal nature as determinants of financial information quality in universities

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62059/LatArXiv.preprints.186

Keywords:

Earnings managment, Earnings quality, Universities

Abstract

This research aimed to estimate accounting manipulation practices in Chilean universities by using earnings management models. By employing financial reports from 53 universities for the years 2014 to 2022, a model was implemented to estimate discretionary accruals using the econometric technique known as the Generalized Method of Moments. Two specific hypotheses were tested: on the one hand, the difference in discretionary accruals between public and private entities, and on the other hand, whether the increased regulations on the Chilean higher education system since 2018 have reduced earnings management. It was found that public universities report lower earnings management and therefore higher quality financial information. Additionally, it was confirmed that the increased regulations introduced to the higher education system in Chile do not impact the earnings management of entities. This research, unprecedented in the national context, has practical implications for both regulatory bodies and university administrators, as it is equally important to ensure the financial sustainability of entities and the quality of the financial information upon which sustainability assessments are based.

References

Aldahray, A. (2024). Notes Readability and Discretionary Accruals. 27(2), 229-238. doi:https://www.doi.org/10.6018/rcsar.459281

Al-Shattarat, B. (2024). The influence of leverage on accrual-based and real earnings management: Evidence from the UK. Revista de Contabilidad - Spanish Accounting Review, 27(2), 239-248. doi:https://www.doi.org/10.6018/rcsar.499761

Arellano, M., & Bond, S. (1991). Some tests of specification for panel data: Monte Carlo evidence and an application to employment equations. The review of economic studies, 58(2), 277-297. doi:https://doi.org/10.2307/2297968

Bisogno, M., & Donatella, P. (2022). Earnings management in public-sector organizations: a structured literature review. Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting & Financial Management, 34(6), 1-25. doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/JPBAFM-03-2021-0035

Boll, D., Müller, H., & Sidki, M. (2022). Determining the drivers of earnings management among municipal enterprises: Evidence from Germany. Public Money & Management, 42(7), 501-510. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/09540962.2022.2076515

Cannon, J. N., Lamboy-Ruiz, M. A., & Watanabe, O. V. (2022). Ownership type and earnings management in US hospitals. Advances in accounting, 58, 100612. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adiac.2022.100612

Capkun, V., Collins, D., & Jeanjean, T. . (2016). The effect of IAS/IFRS adoption on earnings management (smoothing): A closer look at competing explanations. Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, 35(4), 352-394. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaccpubpol.2016.04.002

Choi, A., Lee, E., Park, S., & Sohn, B. (2021). The differential effect of accrual-based and real earnings management on audit fees: international evidence. Accounting and Business Research, 52, 254-290. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/00014788.2021.1911779.

Cohen, D. A., Dey, A., & Lys, T. Z. (2008). Real and accrual‐based earnings management in the pre‐and post‐Sarbanes‐Oxley periods. The accounting review, 83(3), 757-787. doi: https://doi.org/10.2308/accr.2008.83.3.757

Cohen, S. & Malkogianni, I. (2021). Sustainability measures and earnings management: evidence from Greek municipalities. Journal of Public Budgeting, Accounting & Financial Management, 33(4), 365-386. doi:https://doi.org/10.1108/JPBAFM-10-2020

Cunningham, L. M., Johnson, B. A., Johnson, E. S., & Lisic, L. L. (2020). The switch‐up: An examination of changes in earnings management after receiving SEC comment letters. Contemporary Accounting Research, 37(2), 917-944. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/1911-3846.12546

Cyr, D., Landry, S. & Fortin, A. (2023). Earnings Management in the Charitable Sector: A Canadian Study. Canadian Journal of Nonprofit and Social Economy Research, 14(1), 69-88. doi: https://doi.org/10.29173/cjnser587

Dechow, P. M., & Schrand, C. M. (2004). Earnings quality. The Research Foundation of CFA Institute. Obtenido de https://csinvesting.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Defining-Earnings-Quality-CFA-Publication.pdf

Dechow, P. M., Sloan, R. G., & Sweeney, A. P. (1995). Detecting earnings management. Accounting review, 70(2), 193-225. Obtenido de https://www.jstor.org/stable/248303

DeFond, M. L., & Jiambalvo, J. . (1994). Debt covenant violation and manipulation of accruals. . Journal of accounting and economics, 17((1-2)), 145-176. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-4101(94)90008-6

Autor, (2024). CAPIC REVIEW.

Autor, (2024). CIRIEC-España, Revista de Economía Pública, Social y Cooperativa (en prensa)

Autor, (2023). Formación Universitaria.

Eldenburg, L. G., Gunny, K. A., Hee, K. W., & Soderstrom, N. (2011). Earnings management using real activities: Evidence from nonprofit hospitals. The accounting review, 86(5), 1605-1630. doi: https://doi.org/10.2308/accr-10095

Galdi, F. C., Johnson, E. S., Myers, J. N., & Myers, L. A. (2021). Accounting for inventory costs and real earnings management behavior. Advances in Accounting, 53, 100530. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adiac.2021.100530

Garcia Osma, B., Scarlat, E., & Shields, K. (2020). Insider trading restrictions and earnings management. Accounting and Business Research. 50(3), 205-237. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/00014788.2020.1712650

Gilchrist, D.J., Etheridge, D. & Liu, Z. (2024). Managing government commissioning and philanthropic expectations: earnings management in Australian nonprofit disability service providers. Journal of Accounting Literature, 46(2), 200-213. doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/JAL-05-2023-0073

Habib, A., Ranasinghe, D., Wu, J. Y., Biswas, P. K., & Ahmad, F. (2022). Real earnings management: A review of the international literature. Accounting & Finance. Accounting & Finance, 62(4), 4279-4344. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/acfi.12968

Healy, P. M. (1985). The effect of bonus schemes on accounting decisions. . Journal of accounting and economics, 7((1-3)), 85-107. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-4101(85)90029-1

Healy, P. M., & Wahlen, J. M. (1999). A review of the earnings management literature and its implications for standard setting. Accounting horizons, 13(4), 365-383. doi:10.2308/acch.1999.13.4.365 https://doi.org/10.2308/acch.1999.13.4.365

Heese, J. . (2018). The role of overbilling in hospitals’ earnings management decisions. European Accounting Review, 27(5), 875-900. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/09638180.2017.1383168

Huang, S., Roychowdhury, S., & Sletten, E. (2020). Does litigation deter or encourage real earnings management? The Accounting Review, 95(3), 251-278. doi: https://doi.org/10.2308/accr-52589

Jaggi, B., & Lee, P. (2002). Earnings management response to debt covenant violations and debt restructuring. . Journal of Accounting, Auditing & Finance, 17(4), 295-324. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/0148558X0201700402

Jones J. (1991). Earnings Management During Import Relief Investigations. Journal of Accounting Research, 29(2), 193-228. doi: https://doi.org/10.2307/2491047

Kuroki, M. (2018). Earnings Management toward Zero: Evidence from Japanese Private Colleges and Universities. In TJAR/Conference. En I. TJAR/Conference (Ed.). Obtenido de https://www.rieb.kobe-u.ac.jp/tjar/conference/6th/CB_4MakotoKUROKI.pdf

Ley No. 21.091. (2018). Sobre Educación Superior, Julio 21, 2024, Diario Oficial, Chile. Obtenido de https://bcn.cl/3liyi

Malkogianni, I., & Cohen, S. (2022). Earnings management in public hospitals: The case of Greek state-owned hospitals. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540962.2022.2071005. Public Money & Management, 42(7), 491-500. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/09540962.2022.2071005

Mardones, J. A. G., & Palacios, J. A. M. (2023). Chilean Universities and Universal Gratuity: Suggestions for a Model to Evaluate the Effects on Financial Vulnerability. Sustainability, 15(13), 9961. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/su15139961

McNichols, M. F., & Stubben, S. R. (2008). Does earnings management affect firms’ investment decisions? The accounting review, 83(6), 1571-1603. doi:https://doi.org/10.2308/accr.2008.83.6.1571

Nguyen, T., & Soobaroyen, T. (2019). Earnings management by non‐profit organisations: Evidence from UK charities. Australian Accounting Review, 29(1), 124-142. doi:https://doi.org/10.1111/auar.12242

Norma de Caracter General N°461. (2021). Establece la estructura de contenido de la memoria anual de los emisores de valores. https://www.cmfchile.cl/normativa/ncg_461_2021.pdf

Obeng, V. A., Ahmed, K., & Miglani, S. (2020). Integrated reporting and earnings quality: The moderating effect of agency costs. Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, 60, 101285. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pacfin.2020.101285

Perotti P. & Wagenhofer A. (2014). Earnings quality measures and excess returns. Journal of business finance & accounting, 41(5-6), 545-571. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/jbfa.12071

Rico, C. (2024). IFRS y earnings management en la información financiera de las pymes colombianas. Contaduría y administración, 69(4), 74-99. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.22201/fca.24488410e.2024.4652

Schipper, K. (1989). Earnings management. Accounting horizons, 3(4), 91-102. Obtenido de https://www.proquest.com/docview/208918065?pq-origsite=gscholar&fromopenview=true&sourcetype=Scholarly%20Journals

Tohara, Y. (2024). Transparency or ambiguity? Voluntary IFRS adoption and earnings management in Japan. . Accounting & Finance. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/acfi.13221

Toro, M., Muñoz, L. & Velásquez, V. (2025). Calidad del resultado contable y marco normativo aplicado; caso de las empresas del sector real colombiano que reportan a la superintendencia de sociedades. Contaduría y Administración, 70(2), 56-73. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.22201/fca.24488410e.2025.5250

Ugrin, J. C., Mason, T. W., & Emley, A. (2017). Culture's consequence: The relationship between income-increasing earnings management and IAS/IFRS adoption across cultures. Advances in accounting, 37, 140-151. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adiac.2017.04.004

Viana, D. B. C., Lourenço, I. M. E. C., & Paulo, E. (2023). The effect of IFRS adoption on accrual-based and real earnings management: emerging markets' perspective. Journal of Accounting in Emerging Economies, 13(3), 485-508. doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/JAEE-05-2021-0172

Wen, Y. C., Huang, P., Shen, H. C., & Zhang, Y. (2019). The role of organizational forms in nonprofit firms' real earnings management: Evidence from nonprofit hospitals in Taiwan. Advances in accounting, 46, 100418. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adiac.2019.04.003

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Downloads

Posted

2024-08-31

Data Availability Statement

Los datos utilizados en este estudio no han sido puestos a disposición del público de los autores. Sin embargo, la fuente de los datos se encuentran tanto en el Ministerio de Educación de Chile (www.mifuturo.cl/sies/) como en la Superintendencia de Educación Superior del mismo país (www.sesuperior.cl).