PurposeThe study aims to examine the impact of the firm life cycle on the misclassification practices of Indian firms. The study also examines the impact of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) on the misclassification practices of Indian firms.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses Dickinson (2011) cash flow patterns to classify firm-years under life cycle stages. Two forms of misclassification, namely revenue misclassification and expense misclassification have been examined in this study.FindingsBased on a sample of 19,268 Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) firm-years spanning over ten years from March 2010 to March 2019, results show that firms operating at high (low) life cycle stage are more likely to be engaged in revenue (expense) misclassification, implying that firms substitute between the classification shifting tools depending upon ease and needs of each tool. Further, our results demonstrate that the magnitude of expense shifting has been significantly increased among test firms (firms reporting under IFRS) relative to benchmark firms (firms reporting under domestic GAAP) in the post-IFRS adoption period, implying that adoption of IFRS negatively affects the accounting quality of Indian firms.Research limitations/implicationsThe study considers only two main forms of misclassification, namely revenue and expense misclassification. However, future research may explore the cash flow misclassification.Practical implicationsThe findings suggest that standard-setting authorities make more mandatory disclosure requirements under IFRS to curb the corporate misfeasance of classification shifting.Originality/valueFirst, the study is among the earlier attempts to examine the impact of the firm life cycle on misclassification practices. Second, the study explores the unique Indian institutional settings concerning the phased-manner implementation of IFRS and examines its impact on the classification shifting practices of firms.

Purpose The study aims to investigate the impact of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)-converged standards (Indian Accounting Standards (INAS)) on the accounting quality of Indian firms. The phased manner approach of implementing INAS provides us a unique setting to investigate the issue in India. Design/methodology/approach The study used difference-in-difference (DiD) methodology, where the accounting quality is compared between test firms and benchmark firms during the pre-and post-INAS adoption period. Accounting quality is operationalized through four different constructs, namely, earnings smoothing, discretionary accruals, earnings timeliness and value relevance of earnings. Findings The findings deduced from the empirical results demonstrate that accounting quality has been significantly reduced after the adoption of INAS. In particular, results show that the degree of earnings smoothing, and the magnitude of discretionary accruals have been increased among test firms in the post-adoption year. Besides, findings provide evidence that timely recognition of losses and value relevance of earnings has been reduced for test firms relative to benchmark firms after the adoption of INAS. Practical implications The results suggest that the mere adoption of high-quality standards does not ensure higher accounting quality in countries with a weaker enforcement mechanism. Hence, stringent enforcement mechanisms are needed to ensure full compliance with accounting standards. This study serves as a case study for other emerging countries that are in the process of IFRS convergence and make them aware of the unintended consequences of IFRS adoption. Originality/value Indian authorities implemented INAS in a phased manner that provides a unique setting to use DiD methodology. DiD helps to control the impact of concurrent economic shocks, while examining the impact of the particular regulatory shock. Besides, this is the first attempt to investigate the impact of INAS on the accounting quality of Indian firms.

Purpose This study is to examine the economic consequences of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) converged standards by exploring its phased manner implementation in India. Design/methodology/approach The study measures the economic outcomes in the form of capital market reactions such as cost of equity capital, cost of debt capital, information asymmetry and market liquidity. Difference-in-difference (DiD) methodology has been used to analyze the data for this study. Findings Based on a sample of 2,685 Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) listed firms, results show that the Indian capital market reacts negatively to the adoption of IFRS-converged standards. In particular, results show that the cost of equity capital, cost of debt capital and information asymmetry have been increased and market liquidity has been decreased for test firms relative to benchmark firms immediately after IFRS convergence and this negative effect is more pronounced among small firms than large firms. Subsequent tests suggest that test firms have better capital market reactions in the later year of implementation relative to benchmark firms that are implementing IFRS for the first time. It indicates the learning curve effect of IFRS on the economic outcomes as negative impact ameliorates over time. Originality/value The study is among earlier attempts to investigate the impact of IFRS on capital market reactions by exploring the phased manner implementation framework. The study is also among the pioneering attempts to examine the learning curve impact of IFRS on capital market reactions.

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Purpose This study aims to examine the value relevance of earnings in terms of predicting the value variables such as cash flow, capital investment (CI), dividend and stock return under the Indian institutional settings. Design/methodology/approach The study used panel Granger causality tests to examine causality relationships among variables and panel data regression models to check the statistical associations between earnings and value variables. Findings Based on a data set of 7,280 Bombay Stock Exchange-listed firm-years spanning over ten years from March 2009 to March 2018, the results show higher sensitivity of earnings toward cash flows, CI, divided and stock return and vice-versa. Further, the findings deduced from the empirical results demonstrate that earnings are positively related to value variables. Overall, the results established that earnings are value-relevant and have predictive ability to forecast the value variables that facilitate investors in portfolio valuation. The results are consistent with the predictive view of the value relevance of earnings. Several robustness checks confirm these results. Originality/value This study brings new empirical evidence from a distinct capital market, India, and provides a new facet to the value relevance debate in terms of its prediction view. The study is among earlier attempts that jointly measure the ability of earnings in forecasting different value variables by taking a uniform sample of firms at the same period. Hence, the study provides a comprehensive view of the predictive ability of reported earnings.