Modeling Discretionary Accrual Reversal and the Balance Sheet as an Earnings Management Constraint
研究了前期自由裁量应计项目在当期反转的程度，发现反转速度与资产负债表约束共同影响企业实现盈余目标的能力，反转越快，达到季度盈利预测的概率越低。
ABSTRACT This study presents conceptual and empirical analyses of discretionary accrual reversal in the earnings management context. We specifically focus on the extent that income-increasing (decreasing) discretionary accruals initiated in a prior period reverse to become income-decreasing (increasing) accruals in the current period. The analysis suggests that the extent that such reversals constrain the ability to manage toward earnings objectives depends on both the magnitude of past accrual-based earnings management and the reversal speed of past discretionary accruals. To demonstrate the empirical implications of the analysis, we consider discretionary accrual reversal speed as an additional determinant of the balance sheet constraint on earnings management (Barton and Simko 2002). We show that, conditional on the magnitude of net operating asset overstatement, the probability of achieving quarterly earnings forecasts varies inversely with reversal speed.