6533b7defe1ef96bd1276559

RESEARCH PRODUCT

The Impact of Board Internationalization on Earnings Management

Lars OxelheimLars OxelheimLars OxelheimTrond RandøyNiels HermesReggy Hooghiemstra

subject

050208 financebusiness.industryeducation05 social sciencesAccountingSample (statistics)050201 accountingInternationalizationEarnings management8. Economic growth0502 economics and businessBusinessComposition (language)health care economics and organizations

description

Prior literature shows that choices regarding board composition are associated with earnings management. We add to this literature by examining the effects of the presence of a foreign board member on earnings management. Using a sample of 3,249 firm-year observations representing 586 non-financial listed Nordic firms during 2001-2008, we find that the presence of a non-Nordic, foreign director is associated with significantly higher levels of earnings management. Moreover, we provide preliminary evidence that differences in accounting knowledge drive this effect. Our results suggest that it may not necessarily be beneficial to appoint a foreign director to the board.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2016-01-01SSRN Electronic Journal
https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2714428