These responses have added greatly to the quality of this paper.Ĭorporate social responsibility (CSR) refers to a wide range of actions taken by firms to reduce their negative and increase their positive impacts on society (both in an ecological and a social sense) (cf. The authors would like to express their gratitude for the valuable responses of two anonymous reviewers. Finally, the article reflects critically on the concepts used in studying the EM-CSR relationship and its contribution to the literature. Using a sample consisting of 5494 observations of US listed companies for the fiscal years 2003 until 2009, this study (1) finds no relationship between EM and CSR and (2) finds that the firms in the category high environmental impact do not seem to practice EM but do display higher levels of CSR performance. Firm CSR performance is captured by using the Kinder, Lydenberg, Domino (KLD) database. Using the Modified Jones model, discretionary accruals are estimated and used as a proxy for EM (accrual-based EM). low environmental impact as a proxy for experienced stakeholder pressure). As scholars of both CSR and EM have suggested that industry effects may play a role, this study examines the relationship between the level of CSR performance of companies, the extent of EM firms are practising and the effect of industry (high vs. Additionally, research has largely neglected the influence of industry on this relationship. Studies on the EM-CSR relationships have so far yielded contradictory results. Literature suggests that firms may strategically use CSR to compensate for EM or to deflect stakeholder attention from EM. The relationship between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and earnings management (EM) has only emerged recently as a topic of academic research.

Is earnings management ethical