Conditional conservatism and disaggregated bad news indicators in accrual models

Conditional conservatism is an integral part of the process of normal accruals that are not formulated in these models. This research aims, in accordance with Byzalov et al (2016), by controlling the asymmetric behavior of explanatory variables in accrual models, which is due to the observance of the principle of conditional conservatism by accountants, on the one hand, measure the change in the explanatory power of accrual models, on the other hand, examines the usefulness of the model developed by Byzalov and Basu (2016) in measuring conditional conservatism.

The model of Allen et al (2013) was the basis and were collected data from 150 companies listed in Tehran stock Exchange in the period 2006 to 2017, and bad news indicators were added to the original modelstep by step. 

Controlling current cash flow asymmetric effect to the initial accrual model in the first step and then taking into account the asymmetric cash flow effect of the before and the next year as well as the variable of sales growth and number of employees in the second stage and finally taking into account the cumulative effect of cash losses on selection as an indicator of bad news, they increased the explanatory power of the model step by step, and the Vuong test showed a significant increase.

The developed model of Byzalov and Basu (2016) has a higher explanatory power than the Alan et al. (2013) model and can be used to measure conditional conservatism in Iran.

The present study provides a new insight about accruals by controlling the asymmetric effects of disaggregated bad news indicators on accruals, which is consistent with conditional conservatism, and offers a new model for measuring conditional conservatism and earnings management tests in Iran.