Applied Research in Financial Reporting

Applied Research in Financial Reporting

The effect of Firm Life Cycle on the Financial Statement Comparability with Emphasis on the Role of Information Asymmetry and Free Cash Flow

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
1 phd candidate, Tarbiat Modares University
2 Tarbiat Modares University
Abstract
Comparability is one of the qualitative characteristics of financial information that enables users to examine the similarities and differences between financial statement items and make a more rational assessment of various investment or lending opportunities. On the other hand, based on the firm life cycle theory, Firms evolve through distinct life cycle stages and resource and competitive environments create different organizational structures, systems, and agency problems. This research examines how the comparability of firms financial statements in the maturity stage of their life cycle differs from that in other life cycle stages. hence, it is argued that mature firms tend to prepare financial statements that are comparable among their industry peers. be The statistical population of the research was the companies accepted in the Tehran Stock Exchange during the years 1395 to 1400 and included 738 firm-companies. The research results show that the maturity stage of the company's life cycle has a positive relationship with the comparability of financial statements. Also, the current research deals with the relationship between the life cycle and the comparability of financial statements according to the moderating role of information asymmetry and free cash flow, the results show that the positive relationship between mature companies and the comparability of financial statements is moderated by the existence of information asymmetry, but free cash flow has no effect on the life cycle (maturity stage) and the comparability of financial statements.
Keywords

  • Receive Date 22 August 2023
  • Revise Date 23 July 2024
  • Accept Date 17 September 2024