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KALDIRAÇ VE MUHASEBE TAKDİRİ ARASINDAKI İLİŞKİ FARKLI KALDIRAÇ SEVİYELERİNE GÖRE FARKLILIK GÖSTERİR Mİ? AŞIRI BORÇLULUK DURUMU

Year 2025, Volume: 10 Issue: 2, 426 - 443, 12.12.2025
https://doi.org/10.54452/jrb.1597346

Abstract

Bu çalışmada firmaların kaldıraç ile ihtiyari tahakkuklar arasındaki ilişkisinin tekdüze olup olmadığı araştırılmaktadır. Örneklem, 2013-2021 dönemini kapsayan ve 1.653 firma-yıl gözlemi ile BIST'te (Borsa İstanbul) işlem gören tüm imalat firmalarından oluşmaktadır. Analizde kullanılan metodoloji, panel veri sabit etkili regresyon modelidir. Bu çalışmada, kaldıraç düzeyinin ihtiyari tahakkuklarla pozitif ve anlamlı bir ilişkiye sahip olduğu bulunmuştur. Ancak, örneklemin geri kalanının aksine, aşırı kaldıraçlı firmalar için ihtiyari tahakkuklar ile kaldıraç düzeyi arasındaki ilişki anlamlı şekilde negatiftir. Çalışmanın temel bulguları, alt örneklemler arasındaki ihtiyari tahakkukların ortalamalarına yönelik t-testleriyle de desteklenmektedir. Çalışma neticelerine göre, aşırı kaldıraçlı firmaların ihtiyari tahakkuklarının örneklemin geri kalanından anlamlı şekilde farklı olduğu doğrulanmıştır. Genel sonuçlar, aynı örneklem içinde kaldıraç ve ihtiyari tahakkuk ilişkisinin tekdüze olmadığını ve bilakis ihtiyari tahakkukların kaldıraç seviyesine göre değişiklik arzedebileceğini göstermektedir. Dolayısıyla akademik çalışmalarda kardıraç seviyelerinin farklı düzeyleri dikkate alınmadan yapılacak her türlü ihtiyari tahakkuk analizi yanıltıcı olma risk içermektedir.

References

  • Abernathy, J. L., Beyer, B., & Rapley, E. T. (2014). Earnings management constraints and classification shifting. Journal of Business, Finance and Accounting, 41(5-6), 600–626. DOI: 10.1111/jbfa.12076
  • Akers, M., Giacomino, D., & Gissel, J. L. (2007). Earnings management and its implications. The CPA Journal, 77(8), 64–68.
  • Anagnostopoulou, S. C., & Tsekrekos, A. E. (2017). The effect of financial leverage on real and accrual-based earnings management. Accounting and Business Research, 47(2), 191–236. DOI:10.1080/00014.788.201 6.1204217
  • Ardison, K. M. M., Martinez, A. L., & Galdi, F. C. (2013). The effect of leverage on earnings management in Brazil. Advances in Scientific and Applied Accounting, 5(3), 305–324. DOI:10.14392/ASAA/201.205.0301
  • Avabruth, S. M., & Padhi, S. K. (2023). Earnings management by family firms to meet the debt covenants: Evidence from India. Journal of Accounting in Emerging Economies, 13(1), 93–117. DOI: 10.1108/JAEE- 12-2020-0331
  • Barros, M. E., Menezes, J. T., Colauto, R. D., & Teodoro, J. D. (2014). Earnings management and financial leverage in Brazilian listed companies. Contabilidade, Gestão e Governança, 17(1), 35–55.
  • Beatty, A., & Weber, J. (2003). The effect of debt contracting on voluntary accounting method changes. The Accounting Review, 78(1), 119–142. DOI: 10.2308/accr.2003.78.1.119
  • Chen, R. C. Y., & Hung, S. W. (2021). Exploring the impact of corporate social responsibility on real earning management and discretionary accruals. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 28(1), 333–351. DOI: 10.1002/csr.2052
  • Cho, M., Ki, E., & Kwon, S. Y. (2015). The effects of accruals quality on audit hours and audit fees. Journal of Accounting, Auditing & Finance, 32(3), 372–400. DOI: 10.1177/0148558X15611323
  • Cohen, D. A., & Zarowin, P. (2010). Earnings management activities around seasoned equity offerings. Journal of Accounting and Economics, 50(1), 2–19. DOI: 10.1016/j.jacceco.2010.01.002
  • Collins, D. W., Pungaliya, R. S., & Vijh, A. M. (2012). The effects of firm growth and model specification choices on tests of earnings management in quarterly settings. The Accounting Review, 87(1), 69–100. DOI:10.2308/accr-51551
  • Dang, T. M., Dang, M., Le, P. D., Nguyen, H. N., Nguyen, Q. M. N., & Henry, D. (2018). Does earnings management matter for firm leverage? An international analysis. Asia-Pacific Journal of Accounting & Economics, 28(4), 482–506. DOI: 10.1080/16081.625.2018.1540938
  • Darmawan, I. P., Sutrisno, T., & Mardiati, E. (2019). Accrual earnings management and real earnings management: Increase or destroy firm value? International Journal of Multicultural and Multireligious Understanding, 6(2), 8–19. DOI: 10.18415/ijmmu.v6i2.551
  • Dechow, P. M., Sloan, R. G., & Sweeney, A. P. (1995). Detecting earnings management. The Accounting Review, 70(2), 193–225.
  • DeFond, M. L., & Jiambalvo, J. (1994). Debt covenant violation and manipulation of accruals. Journal of Accounting and Economics, 17(1-2), 145–176. DOI: 10.1016/0165-4101(94)90008-6
  • De Vito, A., & Gomez, J. P. (2020). Estimating the COVID-19 cash crunch: Global evidence and policy. Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, 39(2), 1–14. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaccpubpol.2020.106741
  • Dichev, I. D., & Skinner, D. J. (2002). Large sample evidence on the debt covenant hypothesis. Journal of Accounting Research, 40(4), 1091–1123. DOI: 10.1111/1475-679X.00083
  • Egiyi, M. A. (2021). The impact of leverage on accrual-based earnings management. Annals of Management Sciences, 8(2), 1–9.
  • Enomoto, M. (2020). Cross-country research on earnings quality: A literature review and future opportunities. The Japanese Accounting Review, 10, 1–26. DOI: 10.11640/tjar.10.2020.01
  • Fajaria, A. Z., & Isnalita, N. (2018). The effect of profitability, liquidity, leverage and firm growth of firm value with its dividend policy as a moderating variable. International Journal of Managerial Studies and Research, 6(10), 55–69. DOI: 10.20431/2349-0349.061.0005
  • Franz, D. R., HassabElnaby, H. R., & Lobo, G. J. (2014). Impact of proximity to debt covenant violation on earnings management. Review of Accounting Studies, 19(1), 473–505. DOI: 10.1007/s11142.013.9252-9
  • Fung, S. Y. K., & Goodwin, J. (2013). Short-term debt maturity, monitoring, and accruals-based earnings management. Journal of Contemporary Accounting & Economics, 9(1), 67–82. DOI: 10.1016/j. jcae.2013.01.002
  • Green, J., Loui, H., & Sani, J. (2022). Intangible investments, scaling, and the trend in the accrual–cash flow association. Journal of Accounting Research, 60(4), 1551–1582. DOI: 10.1111/1475-679X.12414
  • Hassan, T. A., Hollander, S., Lent, L. V., Schwedeler, M., & Tahoun, A. (2023). Firm-level exposure to epidemic diseases: COVID-19, SARS, and H1N1. The Review of Financial Studies, 36(12), 4919–4964. DOI: 10.1093/rfs/hhad044
  • Healy, P. M., & Wahlen, J. M. (1999). A review of the earnings management literature and its implications for standard setting. Accounting Horizons, 13(4), 365–383. DOI: 10.2308/acch.1999.13.4.365
  • Hoang, K. M. T., & Phung, T. A. (2019). The effect of financial leverage on real and accrual-based earnings management in Vietnamese firms. Economics & Sociology, 12(4), 299–312. DOI: 10.14254/2071- 789X.2019/12-4/18
  • Jones, J. J. (1991). Earnings management during import relief investigations. Journal of Accounting Research, 29(2), 193–228. DOI: 10.2307/2491047
  • Jordan, C. E., Clark, S. J., & Waldron, M. A. (2021). Testing for earnings management in the U.S. amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Applied Business and Economics, 23(5), 1–10.
  • Khan, M. K., Qin, Y., & Zhang, C. (2022). Financial structure and earnings manipulation activities in China. The World Economy, 45(9), 2593–2621. DOI: 10.1111/twec.13232
  • Khanh, M. T. H., & Thu, P. A. (2019). The effect of financial leverage on real and accrual-based earnings management in Vietnamese firms. Economics and Sociology, 12(4), 299–312. DOI: 10.14254/2071- 789X.2019/12-4/18
  • Kothari, S. P., Leone, A. J., & Wasley, C. E. (2005). Performance-matched discretionary accrual measures. Journal of Accounting and Economics, 39(1), 163–197.
  • Lazzem, S., & Jilani, F. (2018). The impact of leverage on accrual-based earnings management: The case of listed French firms. Research in International Business and Finance, 44, 350–358. DOI: 10.1016/j. ribaf.2017.07.103
  • Lee, C. W. J., Li, L. Y., & Yue, H. (2006). Performance, growth, and earnings management. Review of Accounting Studies, 11(2-3), 305–334. DOI: 10.1007/s11142.006.9009-9
  • Murni, S., Rahmawati, R., Widagdo, A. K., Sudaryono, E. A., & Setiawan, D. (2023). Effect of family control on earnings management: The role of leverage. Risks, 11(2), 1–15. DOI: 10.3390/risks11020028
  • Park, S. B., Kim, S.-K., & Lee, S. (2021). Earnings management of insolvent firms and the prediction of corporate defaults via discretionary accruals. International Journal of Financial Studies, 9(2), 17. DOI: 10.3390/ ijfs9020017
  • Petkova, R., & Zhang, L. (2005). Is value riskier than growth? Journal of Financial Economics, 78(1), 187–202. DOI: 10.1016/j.jfineco.2004.12.001
  • Richardson, S. A., Sloan, R. G., Soliman, M. T., & Tuna, I. (2002). Information in accruals about earnings persistence and future stock returns. Working paper, University of Michigan.
  • Ronen, J., & Yaari, V. (2007). Earnings management: Emerging insights in theory, practice, and research. Springer. DOI: 10.1007/978-0-387-25771-6
  • Schipper, K. (1989). Commentary on earnings management. Accounting Horizons, 3(4), 91–102.
  • Shoaib, A., Siddiqui, M. A., & Saeed, M. B. (2021). Leverage, firm fundamentals, and earnings management under nonlinear assumptions: Evidences from APTA economies. Singapore Economic Review. Advance online publication. DOI:10.1142/S021.759.0821500636
  • Susanto, I. R., & Permatasari, I. (2019). Do high leverage motivate managers to manage earnings? Evidence of debt covenant hypothesis in Indonesia public firms. Paper presented at the 34th International Business Information Management Association Conference, Madrid, Spain.
  • Susanto, Y. K., & Agness, V. (2019). Business innovation and development in emerging economies: Firm characteristics, financial leverage, corporate governance, and earnings management in Indonesia. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Innovation and Development (pp. 148–157). CRC Press.
  • Watts, R. L., & Zimmerman, J. L. (1990). Positive accounting theory: A ten-year perspective. The Accounting Review, 65(1), 131–156.
  • Xiao, H., & Xi, J. (2021). The COVID-19 and earnings management: China’s evidence. Journal of Accounting and Taxation, 13(2), 59–77. DOI: 10.5897/JAT2020.0436
  • Yan, H., Liu, Z., Wang, H., Zhang, X., & Zheng, X. (2022). How does the COVID-19 affect earnings management: Empirical evidence from China. Research in International Business and Finance, 63, 1–13. DOI: 10.1016/j. ribaf.2022.101785.

DOES THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LEVERAGE AND ACCOUNTING DISCRETION DIFFER ACROSS LEVERAGE LEVELS? THE CASE OF EXTREME INDEBTEDNESS

Year 2025, Volume: 10 Issue: 2, 426 - 443, 12.12.2025
https://doi.org/10.54452/jrb.1597346

Abstract

This study investigates whether the relationship between leverage and discretionary accruals is uniform across firms. The sample consists of all manufacturing firms listed on Borsa Istanbul (BIST) during the 2013–2021 period, comprising 1,653 firm-year observations. The methodology employed is a panel data fixed-effects regression model. The findings reveal that leverage levels have a positive and significant relationship with discretionary accruals. However, contrary to the rest of the sample, the relationship between leverage and discretionary accruals is significantly negative for highly leveraged firms. The study's main findings are further supported by t-tests comparing the means of discretionary accruals across sub-samples. The results confirm that the discretionary accruals of highly leveraged firms differ significantly from the rest of the sample. Overall, the findings demonstrate that the relationship between leverage and discretionary accruals is not uniform within the same sample; rather, discretionary accruals vary depending on leverage levels. Consequently, any analysis of discretionary accruals conducted without accounting for different levels of leverage may carry the risk of producing misleading results.

References

  • Abernathy, J. L., Beyer, B., & Rapley, E. T. (2014). Earnings management constraints and classification shifting. Journal of Business, Finance and Accounting, 41(5-6), 600–626. DOI: 10.1111/jbfa.12076
  • Akers, M., Giacomino, D., & Gissel, J. L. (2007). Earnings management and its implications. The CPA Journal, 77(8), 64–68.
  • Anagnostopoulou, S. C., & Tsekrekos, A. E. (2017). The effect of financial leverage on real and accrual-based earnings management. Accounting and Business Research, 47(2), 191–236. DOI:10.1080/00014.788.201 6.1204217
  • Ardison, K. M. M., Martinez, A. L., & Galdi, F. C. (2013). The effect of leverage on earnings management in Brazil. Advances in Scientific and Applied Accounting, 5(3), 305–324. DOI:10.14392/ASAA/201.205.0301
  • Avabruth, S. M., & Padhi, S. K. (2023). Earnings management by family firms to meet the debt covenants: Evidence from India. Journal of Accounting in Emerging Economies, 13(1), 93–117. DOI: 10.1108/JAEE- 12-2020-0331
  • Barros, M. E., Menezes, J. T., Colauto, R. D., & Teodoro, J. D. (2014). Earnings management and financial leverage in Brazilian listed companies. Contabilidade, Gestão e Governança, 17(1), 35–55.
  • Beatty, A., & Weber, J. (2003). The effect of debt contracting on voluntary accounting method changes. The Accounting Review, 78(1), 119–142. DOI: 10.2308/accr.2003.78.1.119
  • Chen, R. C. Y., & Hung, S. W. (2021). Exploring the impact of corporate social responsibility on real earning management and discretionary accruals. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 28(1), 333–351. DOI: 10.1002/csr.2052
  • Cho, M., Ki, E., & Kwon, S. Y. (2015). The effects of accruals quality on audit hours and audit fees. Journal of Accounting, Auditing & Finance, 32(3), 372–400. DOI: 10.1177/0148558X15611323
  • Cohen, D. A., & Zarowin, P. (2010). Earnings management activities around seasoned equity offerings. Journal of Accounting and Economics, 50(1), 2–19. DOI: 10.1016/j.jacceco.2010.01.002
  • Collins, D. W., Pungaliya, R. S., & Vijh, A. M. (2012). The effects of firm growth and model specification choices on tests of earnings management in quarterly settings. The Accounting Review, 87(1), 69–100. DOI:10.2308/accr-51551
  • Dang, T. M., Dang, M., Le, P. D., Nguyen, H. N., Nguyen, Q. M. N., & Henry, D. (2018). Does earnings management matter for firm leverage? An international analysis. Asia-Pacific Journal of Accounting & Economics, 28(4), 482–506. DOI: 10.1080/16081.625.2018.1540938
  • Darmawan, I. P., Sutrisno, T., & Mardiati, E. (2019). Accrual earnings management and real earnings management: Increase or destroy firm value? International Journal of Multicultural and Multireligious Understanding, 6(2), 8–19. DOI: 10.18415/ijmmu.v6i2.551
  • Dechow, P. M., Sloan, R. G., & Sweeney, A. P. (1995). Detecting earnings management. The Accounting Review, 70(2), 193–225.
  • DeFond, M. L., & Jiambalvo, J. (1994). Debt covenant violation and manipulation of accruals. Journal of Accounting and Economics, 17(1-2), 145–176. DOI: 10.1016/0165-4101(94)90008-6
  • De Vito, A., & Gomez, J. P. (2020). Estimating the COVID-19 cash crunch: Global evidence and policy. Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, 39(2), 1–14. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaccpubpol.2020.106741
  • Dichev, I. D., & Skinner, D. J. (2002). Large sample evidence on the debt covenant hypothesis. Journal of Accounting Research, 40(4), 1091–1123. DOI: 10.1111/1475-679X.00083
  • Egiyi, M. A. (2021). The impact of leverage on accrual-based earnings management. Annals of Management Sciences, 8(2), 1–9.
  • Enomoto, M. (2020). Cross-country research on earnings quality: A literature review and future opportunities. The Japanese Accounting Review, 10, 1–26. DOI: 10.11640/tjar.10.2020.01
  • Fajaria, A. Z., & Isnalita, N. (2018). The effect of profitability, liquidity, leverage and firm growth of firm value with its dividend policy as a moderating variable. International Journal of Managerial Studies and Research, 6(10), 55–69. DOI: 10.20431/2349-0349.061.0005
  • Franz, D. R., HassabElnaby, H. R., & Lobo, G. J. (2014). Impact of proximity to debt covenant violation on earnings management. Review of Accounting Studies, 19(1), 473–505. DOI: 10.1007/s11142.013.9252-9
  • Fung, S. Y. K., & Goodwin, J. (2013). Short-term debt maturity, monitoring, and accruals-based earnings management. Journal of Contemporary Accounting & Economics, 9(1), 67–82. DOI: 10.1016/j. jcae.2013.01.002
  • Green, J., Loui, H., & Sani, J. (2022). Intangible investments, scaling, and the trend in the accrual–cash flow association. Journal of Accounting Research, 60(4), 1551–1582. DOI: 10.1111/1475-679X.12414
  • Hassan, T. A., Hollander, S., Lent, L. V., Schwedeler, M., & Tahoun, A. (2023). Firm-level exposure to epidemic diseases: COVID-19, SARS, and H1N1. The Review of Financial Studies, 36(12), 4919–4964. DOI: 10.1093/rfs/hhad044
  • Healy, P. M., & Wahlen, J. M. (1999). A review of the earnings management literature and its implications for standard setting. Accounting Horizons, 13(4), 365–383. DOI: 10.2308/acch.1999.13.4.365
  • Hoang, K. M. T., & Phung, T. A. (2019). The effect of financial leverage on real and accrual-based earnings management in Vietnamese firms. Economics & Sociology, 12(4), 299–312. DOI: 10.14254/2071- 789X.2019/12-4/18
  • Jones, J. J. (1991). Earnings management during import relief investigations. Journal of Accounting Research, 29(2), 193–228. DOI: 10.2307/2491047
  • Jordan, C. E., Clark, S. J., & Waldron, M. A. (2021). Testing for earnings management in the U.S. amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Applied Business and Economics, 23(5), 1–10.
  • Khan, M. K., Qin, Y., & Zhang, C. (2022). Financial structure and earnings manipulation activities in China. The World Economy, 45(9), 2593–2621. DOI: 10.1111/twec.13232
  • Khanh, M. T. H., & Thu, P. A. (2019). The effect of financial leverage on real and accrual-based earnings management in Vietnamese firms. Economics and Sociology, 12(4), 299–312. DOI: 10.14254/2071- 789X.2019/12-4/18
  • Kothari, S. P., Leone, A. J., & Wasley, C. E. (2005). Performance-matched discretionary accrual measures. Journal of Accounting and Economics, 39(1), 163–197.
  • Lazzem, S., & Jilani, F. (2018). The impact of leverage on accrual-based earnings management: The case of listed French firms. Research in International Business and Finance, 44, 350–358. DOI: 10.1016/j. ribaf.2017.07.103
  • Lee, C. W. J., Li, L. Y., & Yue, H. (2006). Performance, growth, and earnings management. Review of Accounting Studies, 11(2-3), 305–334. DOI: 10.1007/s11142.006.9009-9
  • Murni, S., Rahmawati, R., Widagdo, A. K., Sudaryono, E. A., & Setiawan, D. (2023). Effect of family control on earnings management: The role of leverage. Risks, 11(2), 1–15. DOI: 10.3390/risks11020028
  • Park, S. B., Kim, S.-K., & Lee, S. (2021). Earnings management of insolvent firms and the prediction of corporate defaults via discretionary accruals. International Journal of Financial Studies, 9(2), 17. DOI: 10.3390/ ijfs9020017
  • Petkova, R., & Zhang, L. (2005). Is value riskier than growth? Journal of Financial Economics, 78(1), 187–202. DOI: 10.1016/j.jfineco.2004.12.001
  • Richardson, S. A., Sloan, R. G., Soliman, M. T., & Tuna, I. (2002). Information in accruals about earnings persistence and future stock returns. Working paper, University of Michigan.
  • Ronen, J., & Yaari, V. (2007). Earnings management: Emerging insights in theory, practice, and research. Springer. DOI: 10.1007/978-0-387-25771-6
  • Schipper, K. (1989). Commentary on earnings management. Accounting Horizons, 3(4), 91–102.
  • Shoaib, A., Siddiqui, M. A., & Saeed, M. B. (2021). Leverage, firm fundamentals, and earnings management under nonlinear assumptions: Evidences from APTA economies. Singapore Economic Review. Advance online publication. DOI:10.1142/S021.759.0821500636
  • Susanto, I. R., & Permatasari, I. (2019). Do high leverage motivate managers to manage earnings? Evidence of debt covenant hypothesis in Indonesia public firms. Paper presented at the 34th International Business Information Management Association Conference, Madrid, Spain.
  • Susanto, Y. K., & Agness, V. (2019). Business innovation and development in emerging economies: Firm characteristics, financial leverage, corporate governance, and earnings management in Indonesia. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Business Innovation and Development (pp. 148–157). CRC Press.
  • Watts, R. L., & Zimmerman, J. L. (1990). Positive accounting theory: A ten-year perspective. The Accounting Review, 65(1), 131–156.
  • Xiao, H., & Xi, J. (2021). The COVID-19 and earnings management: China’s evidence. Journal of Accounting and Taxation, 13(2), 59–77. DOI: 10.5897/JAT2020.0436
  • Yan, H., Liu, Z., Wang, H., Zhang, X., & Zheng, X. (2022). How does the COVID-19 affect earnings management: Empirical evidence from China. Research in International Business and Finance, 63, 1–13. DOI: 10.1016/j. ribaf.2022.101785.
There are 45 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Business Administration
Journal Section Research Article
Authors

Ömer Faruk Büyükkurt 0000-0002-9299-5169

Submission Date December 6, 2024
Acceptance Date October 30, 2025
Publication Date December 12, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 10 Issue: 2

Cite

APA Büyükkurt, Ö. F. (2025). DOES THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LEVERAGE AND ACCOUNTING DISCRETION DIFFER ACROSS LEVERAGE LEVELS? THE CASE OF EXTREME INDEBTEDNESS. Journal of Research in Business, 10(2), 426-443. https://doi.org/10.54452/jrb.1597346