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Annual report readability and financial reporting quality: the moderating role of information asymmetry

Nguyen Thanh Dong, Cao Thi Mien Thuy, Nguyen Vinh Khuong, Anh Huu Tuan Le

International Journal of Accounting & Information Management

ISSN: 1834-7649

Article publication date: 31 December 2024

Issue publication date: 21 January 2025

137

Abstract

Purpose

Drawing from agency and comprehension theories, this paper aims to examine the influence of annual report readability (ARR) on financial reporting quality (FRQ), with a focus on how information asymmetry moderates this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a sample of 467 listed firms in Vietnam from 2015 to 2021. To analyze the relationship between ARR and FRQ, this paper employs a Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) regression, incorporating information asymmetry as a moderating factor.

Findings

The research findings show that ARR has a positive and significant impact on the FRQ of Vietnamese-listed firms. This paper also finds that information asymmetry significantly and partially moderates the relationship between ARR and FRQ. Specifically, ARR can help alleviate the level of information asymmetry and contributes to improved FRQ.

Practical implications

From a practical perspective, this paper provides empirical evidence for managers, investors and related government departments to evaluate the effects of ARR and offers regulators a method to help improve the transparency of the stock market. More importantly, the results of this study have reference value for scholars and practitioners in developing countries like Vietnam.

Originality/value

From a theoretical perspective, our study adds to the growing literature on ARR, expands the scope of ARR research, elaborates on relevant economic consequences of ARR and complements the literature on the determinants of FRQ.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Funding: This research is funded by Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM) under Grant number B2024-34-01.

Data availability statement: Data of present study will be available on request from corresponding author.

Conflict of interest disclosure: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Ethics approval statement: The author adheres to the ethical guidelines required by journal.

Citation

Thanh Dong, N., Thi Mien Thuy, C., Khuong, N.V. and Le, A.H.T. (2025), "Annual report readability and financial reporting quality: the moderating role of information asymmetry", International Journal of Accounting & Information Management, Vol. 33 No. 1, pp. 241-261. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJAIM-06-2024-0192

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited

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