Alternative information sources and information asymmetry reduction: Evidence from small business debt

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Cassar, Gavin; Ittner, Christopher D.; Cavalluzzo, Ken S.
• 署名单位: INSEAD Business School; University of Pennsylvania
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF ACCOUNTING & ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0165-4101
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jacceco.2014.08.003
• 发表日期: 2015
• 关键词: LENDING RELATIONSHIPS; CREDIT AVAILABILITY; financial statement; earnings; QUALITY; models; environment; disclosure; voluntary; selection

摘要

We examine whether more sophisticated accounting Methods (in the form of accrual accounting) interact with other information sources to reduce information asymmetries between small business borrowers and lenders, thereby lowering borrowers' probability of loan denial and cost of debt. We find that higher third party credit scores, but not the use of accrual accounting, decrease the likelihood of loan denial. However, firms using accrual accounting exhibit statistically lower interest rates after controlling for many factors associated with the cost of debt. Further, the interest rate benefits from accrual accounting are greatest when the borrower's credit score is low and/or the length of its banking relationship with the lender is short. This evidence indicates that accrual accounting can benefit small business borrowers, but that the information contained in third-party credit scores and obtained through ongoing banking relationships can substitute for the incremental information provided by accrual accounting. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.