Justice Shares and Earnings Quality: A Political Economy Perspective

Political economy, social science is that explores the dynamic interaction between market forces and the government, and examines the effects of the tension and conflict between the two is in the community. The influence of political powers is effectively on firms' performance, and corporate managers that are at the center of political attention, they find motivated to adapt to accounting practices through which they can manage earnings. Under justice Share's scheme, the government is required to distribute shares of profitable state-owned firms to the public; And may these companies managers through the use of political influence their manage earnings, and therefore will be important the study of the effect of this influence on the quality of earnings. This research studies the effect justice shares on the quality of earnings, with an emphasis on political economy perspective in the listed firms in Tehran Stock Exchange. Linear multivariate models have been used to test the relationship between research variables. The research sample consisted of 130 firms during the years 2012 to 2017 (6 years period). The results of the research indicate that the existence of justice shares in the ownership structure has a significant negative effect on the quality of earnings. Because in the developing countries, the economic system is dominated the connection and influence of government, and therefore be controlled and supported by the state and its affiliated institutions; thus, the influence of government and political management in companies can reduce their quality of earnings. Hence, the results of the research confirm the application of the theory of political economy regarding the adoption of macroeconomic policies (justice shares) and their effects on the quality of earnings