[Recent research on cost driver analysis by Miller and Vollman (1985) and Cooper and Kaplan (1987) suggests that transactions deriving from the diversity of a firm's product line and the complexity of its production process, in addition to output volume, drive overhead costs. As a consequence, it is argued, conventional cost accounting systems based only on volume-related measures, such as units of output, direct labor hours, or machine hours, produce biased and materially misleading cost estimates for managerial decisions on price and product line (whether to continue or discontinue products, or to offer additional products). Systematic biases in cost estimates may also lead to distortions in flexible budgeting systems, variance analyses, and responsibility-accounting systems. Perhaps more important in the long run, omission of operations-based cost drivers may distort the investigation of the likely effects on costs of changes in operating strategies. Many firms have moved ahead on the basis of this perceived need for more accurate cost stimates and have designed and implemented activity-based costing systems (Schiff 1991). From an academic perspective, however, there is a need for further formal empirical research in this field. Cooper and Kaplan's (1987) evidence is based on field-study discussions with managers in a variety of manufacturing settings and experimentation with cost allocation and product-costing systems based on transactions. Foster and Gupta (1990) provide some of the first empirical evidence on the correlation of manufacturing overhead with output volume and operations-based measures that reflect characteristics of the manufacturing process. Using data obtained from 37 plants of a single manufacturing firm, Foster and Gupta found that most of the volume-related measures of output were highly correlated with manufacturing overhead (MOH), but because only a few measures of manufacturing complexity and efficiency were highly correlated with MOH, their findings leave the impression that systems based on just volume may not significantly distort information generated for managerial decision making. In contrast, we find empirical evidence in favor of incorporating operations-based cost drivers along with measures of volume in cost driver models. We draw upon previous work in cost accounting and economics to develop analogs in the airline industry for product diversity, production run volumes, and process complexity, and propose a framework for cost driver analysis in the U.S. airline industry. Using a panel of quarterly data for 1981-1985 compiled primarily from traffic and financial statistics submitted by carriers to the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) and Department of Transportation (DOT), we specify and estimate a multivariate system of cost functions with multiple cost drivers for the industry during the transition following deregulation. We find both volume- and operations-based cost drivers to be statistically significant. We also demonstrate the potential managerial importance of the operations-based drivers by explaining variations in marginal costs across airlines in terms of operating strategies reflected in the cost driver values. Empirical cost driver analysis is managerially significant for the industry and period that we examine. The proportion of indirect costs is large, and identification of input consumption for specific services is difficult. During the transition following deregulation, carriers adopted a rich variety of strategies to improve productivity, reduce costs, and increase market share. These strategies directly involved both volume- and operations-based cost drivers. The analytical framework and model that we have developed on the basis of prior literature concerned with the airline industry enable us to examine the differential cost effects of some of the most important strategies adopted.]

[We present empirical evidence that prior accounting information, such as capital expenditure, retained earnings, funds from operations, and dividend history, is useful in explaining cross-sectional variations in the market response to stock dividend announcements. An important accounting issue concerns the information content of disclosures and their usefulness to the investor. We demonstrate the complementary role of previously disclosed firm-specific accounting information in the market's assessment of subsequently disclosed information. Thus, two firms declaring the same amount of stock dividend may experience predictably different market reactions to the announcement when it is conditioned by prior information about the firms. Comparable research by Kane et al. (1984) has shown that changes in earnings and dividends either corroborate or contradict prior information. A broader approach by Gonedes (1978) and Antle et al. (1991) shows that the sequence and history of information arrival are relevant in interpreting the information content of accounting signals. Ou and Penman (1989) demonstrate the role of prior accounting information in predicting earnings changes in subsequent periods, and John and Lang (1991) have shown, both theoretically and empirically, that the market uses information about prior insider trading to interpret the information content of dividend changes. Stock dividends are appropriate for an investigation of the complementary role of prior accounting information because their issuance is largely a paper transaction, and because they have been interpreted as a signal of better future prospects. Although significant positive abnormal returns usually accompany stock dividend announcements, alternative (and more credible) instruments could signal future prospects (such as an increase in cash dividends). The uncertainty about how investors interpret stock dividend distributions suggests a role for previously disclosed accounting information as a conditioning factor. A survey of managers of firms declaring stock dividends (Eisemann and Moses 1978) indicates that such distributions are intended either to conserve cash in difficult times or to express confidence in the firm, two diametrically opposed motivations. So one firm may declare stock rather than cash dividends in order to invest in more profitable ventures, and another may do so because it faces operating losses and a severe cash crunch. Absent other information, it is likely that the market will respond negatively when cash dividends are discontinued or decreased and replaced by stock dividends (Shefrin and Statman 1984). Other firm-specific accounting information, however, such as capital expenditure (which reflects new investments) and funds from operations (which reflect cash availability), may also influence investor responses when considered in conjunction with dividend history.]

Presents empirical evidence that prior accounting information such as capital expenditure, retained earnings, funds from operations and dividend history is useful in explaining cross-sectional variations in the market response to stock dividend announcements. Information content of disclosures and their usefulness to the investor.

Recent research on cost driver analysis by Miller and Vollman (1985) and Cooper and Kaplan (1987) suggests that transactions deriving from the diversity of a firm's product line and the complexity of its production process, in addition to output volume, drive overhead costs. As a consequence, it is argued, conventional cost accounting systems based only on volume-related measures, such as units of output, direct labor hours, or machine hours, produce biased and materially misleading cost estimates for managerial decisions on price and product line (whether to continue or discontinue products, or to offer additional products). Systematic biases in cost estimates may also lead to distortions in flexible budgeting systems, variance analyses, and responsibility-accounting systems. Perhaps more important in the long run, omission of operations-based cost drivers may distort the investigation of the likely effects on costs of changes in operating strategies. Many firms have moved ahead on the basis of this perceived need for more accurate cost estimates and have designed and implemented activity-based costing systems (Schiff 1991). From an academic perspective, however, there is a need for further formal empirical research in this field. Cooper and Kaplan's (1987) evidence is based on field-study discussions with managers in a variety of manufacturing settings and experimentation with cost allocation and product-costing systems based on transactions. Foster and Gupta (1990) provide some of the first empirical evidence on the correlation of manufacturing overhead with output volume and operations- based measures that reflect characteristics of the manufacturing process. Using data obtained from 37 plants of a single manufacturing firm, Foster and Gupta found that most of the volume-related measures of output were highly correlated with manufacturing overhead (MOH), but because only a few measures of manufacturing complexity and efficiency were highly correlated with MOH, their findings leave the impression that systems based on just volume may not significantly distort information generated for managerial decision making. In contrast, we find empirical evidence in favor of incorporating operations-based cost drivers along with measures of volume in cost driver models. We draw upon previous work in cost accounting and economics to develop analogs in the airline industry for product diversity, production run volumes, and process complexity, and propose a framework for cost driver analysis in the U.S. airline industry. Using a panel of quarterly data for 1981-1985 compiled primarily from traffic and financial statistics submitted by carriers to the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) and Department of Transportation (DOT), we specify and estimate a multivariate system of cost functions with multiple cost drivers for the industry during the transition following deregulation. We find both volume- and operations-based cost drivers to be statistically significant. We also demonstrate the potential managerial importance of the operations-based drivers by explaining variations in marginal costs across airlines in terms of operating strategies reflected in the cost driver values. Empirical cost driver analysis is managerially significant for the industry and period that we examine. The proportion of indirect costs is large, and identification of input consumption for specific services is difficult. During the transition following deregulation, carriers adopted a rich variety of strategies to improve productivity, reduce costs, and increase market share. These strategies directly involved both volume- and operations-based cost drivers. The analytical framework and model that we have developed on the basis of prior literature concerned with the airline industry enable us to examine the differential cost effects of some of the most important strategies adopted.