Economic Consequences of SFAS 142 Goodwill Write-Offs

Accounting and Finance, Forthcoming

43 Pages Posted: 1 Oct 2009 Last revised: 18 Jun 2012

See all articles by Henry Jarva

Henry Jarva

Hanken School of Economics

Date Written: June 18, 2012

Abstract

This paper examines the economic consequences of goodwill write-offs under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142 (SFAS 142). Although write-off firms have performed poorly, it is evident that deteriorating economic performance explains only a small proportion of write-offs. After controlling for endogeneity of write-off choice, I fail to find evidence that investors and analysts fixate on SFAS 142 goodwill write-offs. I also provide evidence that write-off firms pay higher audit fees, suggesting that auditors charge higher fees in response to extra audit effort. These results are consistent with the principles of market efficiency, analyst-forecast rationality, and efficient audit pricing.

Keywords: Audit fees, Conditional conservatism, Fair value accounting, Market efficiency, Propensity score matching

JEL Classification: G14, M41, M48

Suggested Citation

Jarva, Henry, Economic Consequences of SFAS 142 Goodwill Write-Offs (June 18, 2012). Accounting and Finance, Forthcoming, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1480668 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1480668

Henry Jarva (Contact Author)

Hanken School of Economics ( email )

PB 287
Helsinki, Vaasa 65101
Finland

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