The impact of corporate governance on earnings management: Evidence from Greek listed firms

In this paper, we investigate whether the characteristics of boards directors are associated with earnings management. By employing a sample listed firms in Athens Stock Exchange during period from 2008 to 2016 and applying two different management models (Dechow’s ’96 DeAngelo’s ’86) explore, via discretionary accruals, for presence management, surprisingly found no evidence almost any effect investigated board characteristics, except CEO duality. Besides, also significant variation over time. This finding confirms unpresented sovereign debt crisis on Greek firms. The corporate governance legal framework has been improved since mandatory adoption International Accounting Standards, at least 2005. Under new rules, more detailed information is included firms’ financial reports last decade.