A Literature Review on the Aspects Influencing Earnings Management and its Implications for the Capital Market

Authors

  • Ana Khaerunnisa Universitas Hasanuddin
  • Lilis Karfina AR Karfina AR Universitas Hasanuddin
  • Syarifuddin Rasyid Universitas Hasanuddin
  • Darmawati Darmawati Universitas Hasanuddin

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59086/ijest.v4i3.1189

Keywords:

Literature Review, Earnings Management, Implications, Capital Market

Abstract

Earnings management is a practice that affects a company's financial statements and the capital market as a whole, influenced by internal factors such as accounting policies and ownership structure, as well as external factors such as government policies and capital market liberalization. This study aims to examine the various factors that influence earnings management and its impact on the capital market. The method used isSystematic Literature Review (SLR) by analyzing relevant literature published between 2018 and 2024. The results show that better internal controls, such as audit quality and board quality, can reduce unhealthy earnings management practices, while external factors such as economic crises, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and the influence of open capital markets also have a significant impact on earnings management. Although this study provides important insights into earnings management practices, it has limitations as it relies solely on existing literature without direct empirical data from specific companies or capital markets. Furthermore, this study does not consider new factors such as the impact of technology or recent regulatory changes that influence earnings management practices. This study suggests that regulators and companies need to take steps to improve financial reporting transparency and reduce earnings management practices that are detrimental to the capital market.

References

Aburisheh, K. E., Dahiyat, A. A., & Owais, W. O. (2022). Impact of cash flow on earnings management in Jordan. Cogent Business and Management, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2022.2135211

Alam, N., Ramachandran, J., & Nahomy, A. H. (2020). The impact of corporate governance and agency effect on earnings management – A test of the dual banking system. Research in International Business and Finance, 54(April), 101242. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ribaf.2020.101242

Aqabna, S. M., Aga, M., & Jabari, H. N. (2023). Firm Performance, Corporate Social Responsibility and the Impact of Earnings Management during COVID-19: Evidence from MENA Region. Sustainability (Switzerland), 15(2). https://doi.org/10.3390/su15021485

Bajra, U., & Cadez, S. (2018). The Impact of Corporate Governance Quality on Earnings Management: Evidence from European Companies Cross-listed in the US. Australian Accounting Review, 28(2), 152–166. https://doi.org/10.1111/auar.12176

Capalbo, F., Frino, A., Lim, M. Y., Mollica, V., & Palumbo, R. (2018). The Impact of CEO Narcissism on Earnings Management. Abacus, 54(2), 210–226. https://doi.org/10.1111/abac.12116

Dang, A. T., & Khanh Dung, N. N. (2024). The Impact of Covid-19 on Earnings Management: Empirical Evidence from Vietnam. SAGE Open, 14(3), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440241266974

Ding, R., Liu, M., Wang, T., & Wu, Z. (2021). The impact of climate risk on earnings management: International evidence. Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, 40(2), 106818. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaccpubpol.2021.106818

Habbash, M., & Haddad, L. (2020). The impact of corporate social responsibility on earnings management practices: evidence from Saudi Arabia. Social Responsibility Journal, 16(8), 1073–1085. https://doi.org/10.1108/SRJ-09-2018-0232

Hao, Q., Shi, X., Bu, D., & Li, L. (2019). The impact of the Chinese stimulus program on earnings management. International Journal of Accounting and Information Management, 27(4), 653–670. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJAIM-11-2018-0134

Hooghiemstra, R., Hermes, N., Oxelheim, L., & Randøy, T. (2019). Strangers on the board: The impact of board internationalization on earnings management of Nordic firms. International Business Review, 28(1), 119–134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibusrev.2018.08.007

Kałdoński, M., Jewartowski, T., & Mizerka, J. (2020). Capital market pressure, real earnings management, and institutional ownership stability - Evidence from Poland. International Review of Financial Analysis, 71(November 2018), 101315. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.irfa.2019.01.009

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(July 2017), 350–358. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ribaf.2017.07.103

Le, Q. L., & Nguyen, H. A. (2023). The impact of board characteristics and ownership structure on earnings management: Evidence from a frontier market. Cogent Business and Management, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2022.2159748

Liu, M., & Niu, X. (2023). The impact of capital market opening on earnings management: Empirical evidence based on “Land−Port Connection.” Finance Research Letters, 55(PA), 103864. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.frl.2023.103864

Marchini, P. L., Mazza, T., & Medioli, A. (2018). The impact of related party transactions on earnings management: some insights from the Italian context. Journal of Management and Governance, 22(4), 981–1014. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10997-018-9415-y

Mos, C. (2025). Political elections, doctrine shifts, voting margins, and earnings management: the mediating role of capital markets and financial analysts coverage. Finance Research Letters, 85(PC), 108078. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.frl.2025.108078

Muñoz Mendoza, J. A., Sepúlveda Yelpo, S. M., Veloso Ramos, C. L., & Delgado Fuentealba, C. L. (2022). Impacts of Earnings Management and Institutional-financial Development on Capital Structure Choice in Latin-American Markets. Emerging Markets Finance and Trade, 58(9), 2695–2709. https://doi.org/10.1080/1540496X.2021.2010536

Oz, S. (2024). The impact of terrorist attacks and mass shootings on earnings management. British Accounting Review, 56(3), 101232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bar.2023.101232

Popli, M., Raithatha, M., & Goyal, L. (2022). Avoiding the risk of de-legitimation: Impact of internationalization on earnings management of emerging market firms. Finance Research Letters, 48(May), 102979. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.frl.2022.102979

Rocha, M. C., Pereira, A. G., & De Oliveira, J. S. C. (2022). Workforce and earnings management: Evidence in the Brazilian capital market. Revista Contabilidade e Financas, 33(89), 300–314. https://doi.org/10.1590/1808-057x202113310

Saona, P., Muro, L., San Martín, P., & Baier-Fuentes, H. (2019). Board of director’s gender diversity and its impact on earnings management: An empirical analysis for select european firms. Technological and Economic Development of Economy, 25(4), 634–663. https://doi.org/10.3846/tede.2019.9381

Soeprajitno, R. R. W. N., Na’im, A., & Rakhman, F. (2025). The effects of government policies during the COVID-19 pandemic on earnings management. Journal of Contemporary Accounting and Economics, 21(3), 100486. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcae.2025.100486

Sundvik, D. (2019). The impact of principles-based vs rules-based accounting standards on reporting quality and earnings management. Journal of Applied Accounting Research, 20(1), 78–93. https://doi.org/10.1108/JAAR-05-2018-0063

Velte, P. (2021). Environmental performance, carbon performance and earnings management: Empirical evidence for the European capital market. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 28(1), 42–53. https://doi.org/10.1002/csr.2030

Xu, X., Wu, L., Lin, C., & Gan, W. (2026). Research in International Business and Finance Does clan culture mitigate earnings management ? Evidence from China. 81(2).

Zhang, S. (2025). The influence of “Bond Connect” on corporate real earnings management. Finance Research Letters, 77(January), 107064. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.frl.2025.107064

Downloads

Published

2025-12-04

How to Cite

Khaerunnisa, A., Karfina AR, L. K. A., Rasyid, S., & Darmawati, D. (2025). A Literature Review on the Aspects Influencing Earnings Management and its Implications for the Capital Market. International Journal Of Economics Social And Technology (IJEST), 4(3), 121–129. https://doi.org/10.59086/ijest.v4i3.1189