M40 - Accounting and Auditing: GeneralReturn

This study explores the influence of the Covid-19 period on earnings management behaviour (EM) for 150 Algerian companies. The period of study (2018 to 2021) was divided into the pre-pandemic period (2018 and 2019) and the pandemic period (2020 and 2021). The study used two measures for earnings management: discretionary accruals (accounting EM) and abnormal cash flows (real EM). The results indicate that accounting EM decreased during Covid-19 compared to pre-Covid-19. But for real EM, it was the opposite; it has seen an increase during Covid-19. These results have many implications regarding the commitments of various contributors to preparing financial information and other related parties to ensure the accuracy of financial reporting during periods of crisis. More specifically, accounting standards setters should issue additional explanations regarding the accounting for some items, and auditors should extend the range of verification when certifying financial statements.

This paper deals with the definition of micro-undertakings in the Visegrad Group countries (V4). To define micro-undertakings is a task of EU Member States with effect from 1 January 2016. The goal of the Directive is to create better conditions for undertakings and make them more competitive, in particular by reducing the administrative burden. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the level of criteria adopted for defining micro-undertakings in the V4 in relation to the intended reduction in their administrative burden. In addition to the V4, Germany is also researched as a representative of an advanced economy. The study was based on data from the Amadeus database and it was found out that most companies in the V4 belong to the category of micro-undertakings. To achieve the goal of the Directive, it is necessary to reduce their number. As the submitted proposals suggest, their number should be reduced to a level comparable to that of Germany.

The recent global developments have emphasized the limits of the actual corporate reporting system. Today's organizations experience a growing pressure exercised by various types of stakeholders as a result of the increasingly public concern regarding environmental and social issues. Hence, companies must assume their responsibility for the improvement of the environment and society within which they operate materialized through the disclosure of sustainability and corporate responsibility information. The main challenge is not to simply increase the amount of information provided inside the annual reports, but to increase their relevance through new, comprehensive and condensed reporting practices which combine and interconnect financial and nonfinancial data. Accordingly, the concept of integrated reporting is founded. Despite its necessity and adequacy, differences among countries regarding the adoption of integrated reporting exist. This paper aims to analyze the relation between the number of integrated reports issued by companies inside a country in relation with its economic, social and environmental performances. The results found that there is a higher commitment from companies, belonging to more developed countries, to make their contribution towards the development of integrated reporting concept and practice.