Topic: The Quality of Financial Reporting in China
Presenter：Min WU，assistant professor of accounting, Department of Accounting, School of Business and Management, Hong Kong University of Science & Technology 
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Time: May 30, 2008（Friday）3：00—4：30 PM
Venue: Room 513, Jiageng Bld 2
Chair：Zhe Shen, assistant professor in finance, IFAS
Abstract：
This study uses restatements to reveal the low quality of past accounting information
reported within China’s capital market. We show that up to a quarter of listed firms in
Mainland China explicitly admitted the low quality of financial information by
restating their previous financial reports between 1999 and 2005. Many of these firms
manage their earnings mainly via below-the-line items to avoid losses and promote
survival, rather than to support refinancing goals. Such low quality of financial
reporting is more likely among firms that have weaker profitability and a shareholder
base that is state-controlled, with diffused ownership and a relatively low proportion of
shares held by institutional investors. Furthermore, we find the market to be relatively
insensitive to such admission. Investors’ reaction captures only the earnings
information of the current reported year, rather than also reflecting the concurrently
revealed correction of past financial reporting. However, the equity market does not
totally ignore the earnings information, as perceived by many. Investors’ reliance on
earnings is just low relative to the mature U.S. market. These findings demonstrate that
accounting credibility in China has low value; providing low-quality financial
information bears little cost, since various market mechanisms fail to deter such
behavior. Nevertheless, the continuous effort by regulators to enhance listed firms’
quality of financial information and disclosure is still fruitful. The frequency of
restatements over our sample period is decreasing, which reinforces the current
regulatory prospects and strategies for further improving China’s capital markets.
Presenter Introduction：
Dr. Wu got her B. A. of International Economics from Peking University, M. A. of Economics from Tufts University and Ph. D. of Accounting from New York University. She is the member of AAA(American Accounting Association) and European Accounting Association.
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