The Impact of Information Processing Costs on Firm Disclosure Choice: Evidence from the XBRL Mandate

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Blankespoor, Elizabeth
• 署名单位: University of Washington; University of Washington Seattle
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF ACCOUNTING RESEARCH
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0021-8456
• DOI: 10.1111/1475-679X.12268
• 发表日期: 2019
• 页码: 919-967
• 关键词: regression discontinuity designs; financial-statement presentation; earnings; determinants; complexity; valuation; CONSEQUENCES; acquisition; performance; investors

摘要

This paper examines the effect of market participants' information processing costs on firms' disclosure choice. Using the recent eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) regulation, I find that firms increase their quantitative footnote disclosures upon implementation of XBRL detailed tagging requirements designed to reduce information users' processing costs. These results hold in a difference-in-difference design using matched nonadopting firms as controls, as well as two additional identification strategies. Examination of the disclosure increase by footnote type suggests that both regulatory and nonregulatory market participants play a role in monitoring firm disclosures. Overall, these findings suggest that the processing costs of market participants can be significant enough to impact firms' disclosure decisions.