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Journal of Accounting and Economics Vol. 53 No. 1-2 2012

Audited financial reporting and voluntary disclosure as complements: A test of the Confirmation Hypothesis

Ray Ball1; Sudarshan Jayaraman2; Lakshmanan Shivakumar3

1 University of Chicago · 2 Washington University in St. Louis · 3 London Business School

Abstract

We examine the “confirmation” hypothesis that audited financial reporting and disclosure of managers' private information are complements, because independent verification of outcomes disciplines and hence enhances disclosure credibility. Committing to higher audit fees (a measure of financial statement verification) is associated with management forecasts that are more frequent, specific, timely, accurate and informative to investors. Because private information disclosure and audited financial reporting are complements, their economic roles cannot be evaluated separately. Our evidence cautions against drawing inferences exclusively from market reactions around “announcement periods” because audited financial reporting indirectly affects information released at other times and through other channels.

DOI
10.1016/j.jacceco.2011.11.005
Volume
53
Issue
1-2
Pages
136-166
Language
en
Sources
bibtex:phds-export.bib openalex crossref

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