本文精选了会计学国际顶刊《The Accounting Review》近期发表的论文，提供会计学研究领域最新的学术动态。

Influence of Control Precision and Prior Collaboration Experience on Trust and Cooperation in Inter-Organizational Relationships

原刊和作者：

The Accounting Review Volume 97, Issue 6

Shannon W. Anderson （University of California）

Mandy M. Cheng （UNSW）

Yee Shih Phua （UNSW）

Abstract

We investigate whether prior collaboration experience affects a focal partner's response to the precision of monitoring controls adopted by a new partner, with consequences for their goodwill trust in, and subsequent cooperation with, the new partner. We expect the partner to interpret their new partner's adoption of precise monitoring controls as either an effort to limit their autonomy or to reduce information asymmetry. The partner's experience with past partners is posited to determine which interpretation is salient, with negative (positive) experiences favoring the former (latter). We find that partners with an uncooperative (cooperative) experience exhibit lower (higher) goodwill trust in the new partner when controls are more precise. Further, prior experience moderates the indirect relation between the precision of monitoring controls and partner cooperation acting through goodwill trust. The results demonstrate the importance of prior experiences in the design of interfirm controls for current partner relationships.

Link: https://doi.org/10.2308/TAR-2019-0514

Theory Testing and Process Evidence in Accounting Experiments

原刊和作者：

The Accounting Review Volume 97, Issue 6

H. Scott Asay （The University of Iowa）

Ryan D. Guggenmos （Cornell University）

Kathryn Kadous （Emory University）

Lisa Koonce （The University of Texas at Austin）

Robert Libby （Cornell University）

Abstract

This paper discusses the role of process evidence in accounting research. We define process evidence broadly as data providing insight into how and why cause-effect relationships occur, and we provide a framework to guide the provision and evaluation of process evidence in accounting studies. Our definition allows for an expanded understanding of techniques for gathering process evidence. The framework highlights the importance of the study's goals and theory in choosing how to provide process evidence, as well as how much process evidence to provide. The paper also outlines the strengths and limitations of three approaches to providing process evidence: mediation, moderation, and multiple-study-based designs. We provide recommendations for best practices for each approach to minimize threats to validity and maximize the value of process evidence.

Link: https://doi.org/10.2308/TAR-2019-1001

Political Connections and Accounting Conservatism

原刊和作者：

The Accounting Review Volume 97, Issue 6

Vishal P. Baloria （University of Connecticut）

Abstract

Firms supply accounting conservatism in response to debt/equity contracting, litigation, political costs, and taxation demand from stakeholders. I examine whether political connections between U.S. firms and politicians moderate and/or intensify the impact of these demands on the supply of conditional and unconditional conservatism. I measure political connections based on the association between firms' campaign contributions and equity ownership in firms by U.S. House and Senate representatives. I measure conditional conservatism using an earnings-return model and unconditional conservatism using a persistent negative accruals proxy. I find that political connections moderate the effect of the debt contracting (litigation) demand for conditional (unconditional) conservatism. My results demonstrate whether and how political connections of U.S. firms can affect the four demands for and the supply of the two forms of conservatism. The collective evidence suggests that political connections serve as an alternative channel to reduce stakeholders' debt contracting and litigation demand for accounting conservatism.

Link: https://doi.org/10.2308/TAR-2015-0263

Contemporary Conflicts in Perspectives on Work Hours across Hierarchical Levels in Public Accounting

原刊和作者：

The Accounting Review Volume 97, Issue 6

Lisa Baudot （University of Central Florida）

Khim Kelly （University of Central Florida）

Aaron McCullough （University of Central Florida）

Abstract

Socializing personnel into accepting work hour norms has been fundamental to how accounting firms function, but is now challenged by contemporary work perspectives. Using 40 semi-structured interviews of personnel across hierarchical levels at a national firm and an international firm, we show how strangeness and contradiction expressed in work hour perspectives across different levels within both firms are reconstructed as compatible and complementary. Highlighting various firm adaptations, including alternative work arrangements, offshoring, and technological tools, our interviews suggest a major shift in firms' approach toward work hours. This shift is fueled by work perspectives embraced by younger generations desiring work-life balance and purposeful work, and enabled by technology supporting remote work and increasing work efficiencies. The question remains whether firms are evolving to genuinely embody work perspectives of younger generations or restructuring to rely on a smaller workforce willing to accept traditional work hour norms, or some combination thereof.

Link: https://doi.org/10.2308/TAR-2020-0106

The Cost of Fraud Prediction Errors

The Accounting Review Volume 97, Issue 6

Messod D. Beneish （Indiana University）

Patrick Vorst （Indiana University）

Abstract

We compare seven fraud prediction models with a cost-based measure that nets the benefits of correctly anticipating instances of fraud against the costs borne by incorrectly flagging non-fraud firms. We find that even the best models trade off false to true positives at rates exceeding 100:1. Indeed, the high number of false positives makes all seven models considered too costly for auditors to implement, even in subsamples where misreporting is more likely. For investors, M-Score and, at higher cut-offs, the F-Score, are the only models providing a net benefit. For regulators, several models are economically viable as false positive costs are limited by the number of investigations regulators can initiate, and by the relatively low market value loss a “falsely accused” firm would bear in denials of requests under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Our results are similar whether we consider fraud or two alternative restatement samples.

Link: https://doi.org/10.2308/TAR-2020-0068