Financial Reporting Quality of U.S. Private and Public Firms

TLDR

The study investigates financial reporting quality of U.S. private versus public firms using a new database of accounting data for a large sample of private firms. Public firms generally exhibit higher accrual quality and greater conservatism than private firms, a pattern driven by higher demand for financial information, though this advantage diminishes when earnings management is likely or demand is low.

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Using a new database that contains accounting data for a large sample of U.S. private firms, we provide an investigation of financial reporting quality (FRQ) of U.S. private versus public firms. We find that in general public firms have higher accrual quality and are more conservative. The results are consistent with public firms' reporting reflecting greater demand for financial information. However, these reporting qualities of public firms are mitigated or eliminated in settings where public firms are more likely to manage earnings or face reduced demand for their financial information. Our study contributes not only to the current debate on private versus public financial accounting, but also to the broader literature attempting to understand the determinants of FRQ.