International Variation in Accounting Measurement Rules and Analysts’ Earnings Forecast Errors
研究不同国家的会计准则如何通过影响盈利波动性,进而影响分析师的盈利预测误差,发现匹配原则和历史成本原则降低误差,而限制会计方法选择则增加误差。
We theorize that accounting systems affect analysts’ forecast accuracy through changes in earnings variability. We argue that the matching and historical cost principles reduce earnings variability, and hence, reduce analysts’ earnings forecast errors. We also argue that restricting the choice of accounting methods can result in larger forecast errors. We argue that more informative disclosure environments should reduce forecast errors. We test whether variation in these factors across countries explain variation in analysts’ earnings forecast bias and accuracy. Our results indicate that these characteristics of financial accounting systems are complements, and that they affect financial analysts’ earnings forecast errors.