Cost Stickiness Concept and a Comprehensive Overview of Studies in Iran

Based on cost accounting literature, there is a symmetrical relationship between the cost and volume of activity. However, recent research suggests that amount of cost reduced, affected by reduce in the volume of activity is less than the amount of cost increased, affected by increase in the volume of activity. This behavior is called asymmetric cost stickiness. Thus, after reviewing the concept, types and causes cost stickiness, then the relation between cost stickiness and agency theory, conditional conservatism, earnings’ and management forecast, antitrust index (Herfindahl) and free cash flow is explained. Since only four articles have been referenced as internal research; to provide a larger view of the cost stickiness nearly 40 articles related to the subject have been reviewed.