The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of internal control weaknesses on accounting conservatism in Chinese listed firms. It also investigates the relationship…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of internal control weaknesses on accounting conservatism in Chinese listed firms. It also investigates the relationship between the demand for external audit and accounting conservatism, and whether additional assurance of internal control reports (ICRs) can mitigate the negative impact of ICWs on accounting conservatism.
Design/methodology/approach
An empirical research approach is taken through the use of ordinary least squares (OLS) models and hand-collected internal control weakness data from ICRs released by Chinese listed firms.
Findings
The results of this paper show that the existence of ICWs has a negative effect on accounting conservatism in China. Further, the results demonstrate that both accounting-related and non-accounting-related ICWs affect accounting conservatism. The authors also find that there is a complementary relationship between accounting conservatism and the demand for additional assurance of ICRs, and additional assurance of ICRs can mitigate the negative impact of ICWs on accounting conservatism.
Practical Implications
This study provides timely evidence to Chinese regulators of the possible economic consequences of the official implementation of internal control standard in China from 2012. The findings of this paper can also benefit regulators around the world and, in particular, the regulators in emerging markets that are considering implement regulations similar to the US SOX.
Originality/value
The paper demonstrates that a wider scope of ICWs, including non-accounting-related ICWs, also has a significant impact on accounting conservatism. Therefore, this research provides a more general evidence on the relationship between internal control quality and accounting conservatism.
Details
Keywords
Guanglu (Luke) Xu and Xudong Ji
The main aim of this study was to examine the earnings management behaviours, including both accrual-based and cash flow-based earnings management, of Chinese firms during the…
Abstract
Purpose
The main aim of this study was to examine the earnings management behaviours, including both accrual-based and cash flow-based earnings management, of Chinese firms during the Global Financial Crisis (GFC).
Design/methodology/approach
A data set of 1,392 firm-year observations derived from a large sample of China's top listed firms (based on total assets) was constructed and investigated via univariate and ordinary least squares regression analyses.
Findings
Two distinct conclusions can be drawn from the results of the study. First, the top Chinese listed firms did engage in earnings management, as indicated by comparisons of the means of the absolute values of both accrual-based and cash flow-based earnings management indicators in the periods before and after 2008 when the GFC started. Second, investigation of earnings management directions revealed that in response to the GFC, the firms from construction-related industries and the airline industry manipulated earnings upwards through either accrual-based and/or cash flow-based earnings management activities. On the other hand, firms in the household durables industry engaged in earnings-reducing activities. These findings reflect the effect of the stimulus package launched by the Chinese Government in an effort to combat the GFC. In addition, the results indicate that firm characteristics such as size, leverage, profitability and growth affected the earnings management behaviours of the firms analysed in the study.
Originality/value
The empirically derived findings of this study contribute to the literature pertaining to the effects of the GFC on earnings management practices in China, which has remained relatively scant to date.
Details
Keywords
Nor Farizal Mohammed, Kamran Ahmed and Xu-Dong Ji
The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between accounting conservatism, corporate governance and political connection in listed firms in Malaysia where political…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between accounting conservatism, corporate governance and political connection in listed firms in Malaysia where political influence plays a significant role in the capital market and in many business dealings.
Design/methodology/approach
By utilizing 824 firm-year observations comprising large listed companies over a period of four years from 2004, this study uses ordinary least squares regression models to investigate the relationship between accounting conservatism, corporate governance and political connections in Malaysia. Multiple measures of conservatism developed by Basu (1997) and Khan and Watts (2009) are employed.
Findings
The results show evidence of accounting conservatism (bad news being recognized earlier than good news) in Malaysia. Further, the results reveal that better corporate governance structure in terms of board independence is positively associated with accounting conservatism while management ownership is negatively associated with it. However, political connection has a negative moderating effect on the positive relationship between accounting conservatism and board independence. The results also suggest political connections have a positive association with firm’s future performance.
Originality/value
This study is the first in investigating the effect of political connections on accounting conservatism in Malaysian context and how political connections negatively affect the monitoring role of the corporate boards. By directly measuring political connection and controlling for various corporate governance mechanisms and firm-specific attributes, this study contributes to enhance the authors’ understanding of the political influence in financial reporting quality and firm performance in an emerging market setting.
Details
Keywords
Dessalegn Getie Mihret, Wei Lu and Xu-Dong Ji
This study aims to examine competition between global professional service firms (GPSFs) and Chinese local audit firms (LAFs) over the past four decades, explaining the process…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine competition between global professional service firms (GPSFs) and Chinese local audit firms (LAFs) over the past four decades, explaining the process and outcomes of this competition in relation to shifting economic policy priorities.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors analysed pertinent documents and media reports through the lens of strategic action field (SAF). The authors interpret the dynamics of the competition against the background of the shifting framing of Chinese economic policies.
Findings
The authors find that frame alignment with the state’s priorities in China enabled GPSFs and LAFs to secure stronger market positions relative to each other in different episodes of the Chinese policy landscape. The Chinese state’s marketisation reforms conditioned the outcome of the competition between GPSFs and LAFs. Initially, GPSFs gained access to the Chinese accounting field and achieved a strong market position by leveraging China’s “open-door” policy. This situation was reversed when China’s economic policy shifted to “going global” because Chinese LAFs pursued internationalisation framing thereby aligning with the state’s priority of internationalising the economy.
Originality/value
Using the lens of SAF, this study offers theorised insights into how transnational competition in the accounting field plays out in a non-Western state setting.
Details
Keywords
Mohamed Omran, Dinesh Ramdhony, Oren Mooneeapen and Vishaka Nursimloo
Drawing upon agency theory, this study analyses the influence of board characteristics on integrated reporting (IR) for the top 50 companies listed on the Australian Securities…
Abstract
Purpose
Drawing upon agency theory, this study analyses the influence of board characteristics on integrated reporting (IR) for the top 50 companies listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX50). Focus is placed on IR at the aggregate level as well as its separate components, namely Future Opportunities and Risks (FOPRI), Governance and Strategy (GOVSTR), Performance (PERF), Overview and Business Model (OBM) and General Preparation and Presentation (GPP).
Design/methodology/approach
A checklist is devised based on the IIRC (International Integrated Reporting Council) framework to track companies' disclosures for the period from 1st July 2014 to 30th June 2017. Regression analysis is used to investigate the determinants (board size, board independence, activity of the board, gender diversity, firm size, profitability and growth opportunities) of IR and its separate components.
Findings
The findings indicate a significant and positive effect of board independence on the aggregate IR index, FOPRI and GPP. A negative and significant association is found between activity of the board and both the aggregate IR index and its separate components, including GOVSTR, PERF and GPP. Additionally, the aggregate IR index is significantly related to firm size, profitability and growth opportunities.
Research limitations/implications
The limited sample of 50 companies over three years is the main limitation of the study. The study suffers from an inherent limitation from the use of content analysis in assessing the level of IR. No checklist to measure the level of IR can be fully exhaustive. Furthermore, we focus on whether an item in the checklist is disclosed, using a dichotomous scale, thus ignoring the quality of information disclosed.
Practical implications
The study has several practical implications. From a managerial perspective, it shows that having more board meetings harms the level of IR. The results can guide regulators, such as the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) and the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), when drafting new regulations/guidelines/listing rules. If regulators aim for a higher level of integration in the reports, they know which “triggers to pull” to attain their target. Our results can guide regulators to choose the appropriate trigger among various alternatives. For instance, if a higher level of integrated reporting is desired, size instead of profitability should be chosen. Finally, ASX listed companies can use our checklist as a scorecard for their self-assessment.
Originality/value
This research is the first to investigate IR by devising a checklist based on IIRC (2013) along with an additional GPP component in the ASX context. Using separate models to examine each component of the aggregate IR index is also unique to this study. The study also brings to the fore the role of gender-diverse boards in promoting IR. It reiterates the debate about imposing a quota for better gender representation on boards.
Details
Keywords
Li Ji, Yiwei Zhang, Ruifeng Shi, Limin Jia and Xin Zhang
Green energy as a transportation supply trend is irreversible. In this paper, a highway energy supply system (HESS) evolution model is proposed to provide highway transportation…
Abstract
Purpose
Green energy as a transportation supply trend is irreversible. In this paper, a highway energy supply system (HESS) evolution model is proposed to provide highway transportation vehicles and service facilities with a clean electricity supply and form a new model of a source-grid-load-storage-charge synergistic highway-PV-WT integrated system (HPWIS). This paper aims to improve the flexibility index of highways and increase CO2 emission reduction of highways.
Design/methodology/approach
To maximize the integration potential, a new energy-generation, storage and information-integration station is established with a dynamic master–slave game model. The flexibility index is defined to evaluate the system ability to manage random fluctuations in power generation and load levels. Moreover, CO2 emission reduction is also quantified. Finally, the Lianhuo Expressway is taken as an example to calculate emission reduction and flexibility.
Findings
The results show that through the application of the scheduling strategy to the HPWIS, the flexibility index of the Lianhuo Expressway increased by 29.17%, promoting a corresponding decrease in CO2 emissions.
Originality/value
This paper proposed a new model to capture the evolution of the HESS, which provides highway transportation vehicles and service facilities with a clean electricity supply and achieves energy transfer aided by an energy storage system, thus forming a new model of a transportation energy system with source-grid-load-storage-charge synergy. An evaluation method is proposed to improve the air quality index through the coordination of new energy generation and environmental conditions, and dynamic configuration and dispatch are achieved with the master–slave game model.
Details
Keywords
Yi Ma, Lei Chen, Yixiao Xu, Xiangkai Meng and Xudong Peng
This study aims to evaluate the effects of the downhole environment and auxiliary rubber bellows on the contact mechanical characteristics and sealing performance of…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to evaluate the effects of the downhole environment and auxiliary rubber bellows on the contact mechanical characteristics and sealing performance of rubber-bellows mechanical seals (RBMS) in electric submersible pumps (ESPs), considering the elastic support of the rubber bellows, multi-field coupling effect and actual operating conditions.
Design/methodology/approach
A thermal-fluid-solid multi-field coupling numerical model for RBMS in ESPs is developed using the finite element analysis and influence coefficient method. Based on the contact mechanical characteristics of RBMS, the interactions of multiple physical fields between the sealing rings and lubricating oil are accounted for to assess the liquid lubrication state and sealing performance of RBMS in ESPs.
Findings
The findings indicate the anti-leakage effects of rubber bellows, the transition of lubrication state of the sealing end face and the evolution law of sealing performance with environmental pressure, axial compression amount and contact widths of rubber bellows.
Originality/value
This study innovatively proposes a multi-field numerical research method to reveal the impact of the downhole environment and rubber bellows on RBMS in ESPs. These findings contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the sealing mechanism of RBMS and optimize the sealing design for ESPs in high-pressure environments.
Peer review
The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-10-2024-0369/
Details
Keywords
Yingli Li, Chenwei Wu, Yong Peng and Xudong Jiang
In order to investigate the vibration reduction properties of a three-dimensional elastic metastructure with spherical cavities at low frequencies.
Abstract
Purpose
In order to investigate the vibration reduction properties of a three-dimensional elastic metastructure with spherical cavities at low frequencies.
Design/methodology/approach
The bandgap characteristics of a three-dimensional elastic metastructure with spherical cavities are studied based on analytical and numerical approaches.
Findings
The results of both method revealed that the vibration of the vertexes masses is important for opening bandgaps. The fact that the big sphere cavity radius or short side length of the cube unit leads to a wider bandgap, is noteworthy.
Originality/value
This research provides theoretical guidance for realizing the vibration attenuation application of EMs in practical engineering.
Details
Keywords
Xudong He, GuangYi Yang, E. Yang, Moli Zhang, Dan Luo, Jingjian Liu, Chongnan Zhao, Qinhua Chen and Fengying Ran
Based on DNase I and reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-magnetic silicon microspheres (MNPS), a highly sensitive and selective fluorescent probe for the detection of PD-L1 was developed.
Abstract
Purpose
Based on DNase I and reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-magnetic silicon microspheres (MNPS), a highly sensitive and selective fluorescent probe for the detection of PD-L1 was developed.
Design/methodology/approach
Here °C we present a feasibility of biosensor to detection of PD-L1 in lung tumors plasma. In the absence of PD-L1°C the PD-L1 aptamer is absorbed on the surface of graphene oxide modified magnetic nanoparticles °8rGO-MNPS°9 and leading to effective fluorescence quenching. Upon adding PD-L1°C the aptamer sequences could be specifically recognized by PD-L1 and the aptamer/PD-L1 complex is formed°C resulting in the recovery of quenched fluorescence.
Findings
This sensor can detect PD-L1 with a linear range from 100 pg mL−1 to 100 ng mL−1, and a detection limit of 10 pg•m−1 was achieved.
Originality/value
This method provides an easy and sensitive method for the detection of PD-L1 and will be beneficial to the early diagnosis and prognosis of tumors.