Does stock market liberalisation reduce earnings management? Evidence from China

Abstract

This paper employs the Stock Connect programme to examine the impact of stock market liberalisation on the earnings management activities of listed firms in China. Using the time-varying difference-in-difference model, we find that both accrual-based and real earnings management activities decrease after firms join the Stock Connect programme. This reduction effect disappears once the firms leave the programme. These firms may even resume their earnings management activities. We further find that the participation of international investors, the improvement of the information environment, and the strengthening of monitoring power are potential transmission channels for this reduction effect.