Examining Relationship between Information Asymmetry and Mispricing of Accruals

The purpose of the present study is to investigate the relationship between information asymmetry and mispricing of accruals in Tehran Stock Exchange. Hence, we hypothesize that there is a significant positive relationship between the level of information asymmetry and mispricing of accruals. We implement Mishkin test and classification of portfolios method to respectively investigate whether there is any mispricing of accruals and its relationship with information asymmetry. Furthermore, the indirect balance sheet approach and bid-ask spread have been utilized to measure respectively accruals and information asymmetry. Thus, information of 82 entities during the time span of 5 years between 2008 to 2012 have been analysed to test our hypothesis. The results depict that as the level of information asymmetry enhances, the difference between coefficients of predictions and evaluation of accruals in the Mishkin test increases. In other words, as the level of information asymmetry increases, the mispricing of accruals intensifies.