A Study on Earnings Management of Zero-leverage Firms from the Perspective of Financial Constraints
- Authors
- 이현아
- Issue Date
- Feb-2022
- Publisher
- 사람과세계경영학회
- Keywords
- Zero-leverage; Leverage; Financial constraints; Debt covenants; Earnings management
- Citation
- Global Business and Finance Review, v.27, no.1, pp.28 - 49
- Journal Title
- Global Business and Finance Review
- Volume
- 27
- Number
- 1
- Start Page
- 28
- End Page
- 49
- URI
- https://scholarworks.bwise.kr/gachon/handle/2020.sw.gachon/83802
- DOI
- 10.17549/gbfr.2022.27.1.28
- ISSN
- 1088-6931
- Abstract
- Purpose: This study verifies the debt covenant hypothesis by exploring the earnings management of zero-leverage firms that are not constrained by debt covenants. Furthermore, this study investigates whether the earnings management of zero-leverage firms varies depending on financial constraints, whether a consecutive zero-leverage period is associated with the level of earnings management, and whether this association varies depending on financial constraints.
Design/methodology/approach: Using a sample of 5,669 firm-year data of listed firms in the securities market in South Korea from 2011 to 2019, this study conducts multiple regression analysis to examine the earnings management of zero-leverage firms from the perspective of financial constraints. In the analysis, two types of earnings management behaviors (i.e., accrual-based and real activities earnings management) are considered.
Findings: The findings of this study show that zero-leverage firms are less likely to manage earnings than leveraged firms. Moreover, the longer the zero-leverage period, the lower the level of earnings management. However, these findings disappear when the analysis is conducted for firms with financial constraints. They indicate that a zero-leverage policy or a consecutive zero-leverage period is related to earnings management and that this relation varies depending on financial constraints.
Research limitations/implications: This study provides insight into the attributes of zero-leverage firms by analyzing their earnings management. The findings of this study provide compelling evidence that zero-leverage firms are not homogeneous and are significantly distinct according to their status with or without financial constraints.
Originality/value: This is the first study to test the debt covenant hypothesis by investigating the earnings management of zero-leverage firms. This study also extends the literature by examining the financing decisions that maintain zero leverage for a long period.
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