伦理取向和专业承诺对盈余管理的影响外文翻译.doc

外文翻译 原文 The Effect of Ethical Orientation and Professional Commitment on Earnings Management Behavior Material Source: Journal of Business Ethics Author: A. C. Greenfield, Jr. Carolyn Strand Norman Benson Wier Introduction Earnings management occurs when managers choose reporting methods and estimates that do not accurately reflect their firms’ underlying economics (Healy and Wahlen, 1999). Rosenfield (2000) claims that GAAP permits earnings management in two ways. First, GAAP allows businesses to report income that has not yet been earned, and second, GAAP allows stability of income reporting (income smoothing). Examples of these types of accounting practices are: (1) shifting debt to offshore holding companies to inflate income (ENRON), (2) recording revenues earlier than allowed (Allied Carpet), and (3) recording the sale of products as revenue prior to actual shipment (Sunbeam). However, not all companies engage in aggressive earnings management behaviors, at least not to the extent of the widely reported cases noted above. The obvious question is: Why do some managers choose to participate in egregious earnings management behaviors and others do not? The purpose of this study is twofold. The first objective is to examine the impact of an individual’s ethical ideology and level of professional commitment on the earnings management decision. The second objective is to observe whether the presence of a personal benefit affects an individual’s ethical orientation or professional commitment within the context of an opportunity to manage earnings. Using a sample of 375 undergraduate business majors, our results suggest a significant relationship between an individual’s ethical orientation and decision-making. Further, participants with higher levels of professional commitment seem to be less likely to engage in earnings management behavior and less likely to behave opportunistically. These results have the potential to add to our understanding of certain behaviors