487
Views
0
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Articles

The Italian depreciation suspension policy during the COVID-19 pandemic: consequences on private firms’ borrowing capacity

ORCID Icon, ORCID Icon & ORCID Icon
Pages 166-193 | Received 16 Nov 2022, Accepted 26 Jan 2023, Published online: 15 Feb 2023

References

  • Agostino, M., Gagliardi, F., & Trivieri, F. (2012). Bank competition, lending relationships and firm default risk: An investigation of Italian SMEs. International Small Business Journal: Researching Entrepreneurship, 30(8), 907–943. https://doi.org/10.1177/0266242611416681
  • Ahmad, W., Kutan, A. M., Chahal, R. J. K., & Kattumuri, R. (2021). COVID-19 Pandemic and firm-level dynamics in the USA, UK, Europe, and Japan. International Review of Financial Analysis, 78, 101888. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.irfa.2021.101888
  • Ahn, S., & Choi, W. (2009). The role of bank monitoring in corporate governance: evidence from borrowers’ earnings management behavior. Journal of Banking & Finance, 33(2), 425–434. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbankfin.2008.08.013
  • Alstadsæter, A., Bjørkheim, J. B., Kopczuk, W., & Økland, A. (2020). Norwegian and US policies alleviate business vulnerability due to the COVID-19 shock equally well. National Tax Journal, 73(3), 805–828. https://doi.org/10.17310/ntj.2020.3.08
  • Altman, E. I. (1993). Corporate financial distress and bankruptcy (2nd Edition). John Wiley & Sons.
  • Atlantic. (2020a). Denmark’s idea could help the world avoid a great depression. TheAtlantic, March 21. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/03/denmark-freezing-its-economy-should-us/608533/.
  • Atlantic. (2020b). Do more-fast. Don’t wait. The Atlantic, March 24. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/03/denmark-has-a-message-for-america-do-more-fast/608629/.
  • Azzali, S., & Mazza, T. (2017). The association between Big4 and cost of debt in private firms. Financial Reporting, 1/2017(1), 63–82. https://doi.org/10.3280/FR2017-001003
  • Ball, R., & Shivakumar, L. (2005). Earnings quality in UK private firms: Comparative loss recognition timeliness. Journal of Accounting and Economics, 39(1), 83–128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacceco.2004.04.001
  • Balsmeier, B., & Vanhaverbeke, S. (2018). International financial reporting standards and private firms’ access to bank loans. European Accounting Review, 27(1), 75–104. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638180.2016.1229207
  • Bar-Yosef, S., D’Augusta, C., & Prencipe, A. (2019). Accounting research on private firms: State of the art and future directions. The International Journal of Accounting, 54(2), 1950007. https://doi.org/10.1142/S1094406019500070
  • Bassemir, M. (2018). Why do private firms adopt IFRS? Accounting and Business Research, 48(3), 237–263. https://doi.org/10.1080/00014788.2017.1357459
  • Beck, T., Demirgüç-Kunt, A., & Maksimovic, V. (2008). Financing patterns around the world: Are small firms different?⋆. Journal of Financial Economics, 89(3), 467–487. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfineco.2007.10.005
  • Belghitar, Y., Moro, A., & Radić, N. (2022). When the rainy day is the worst hurricane ever: The effects of governmental policies on SMEs during COVID-19. Small Business Economics, 58(2), 943–961. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-021-00510-8
  • Bergbrant, M. C., & Hunter, D. M. (2018). (How) do credit market conditions affect firms’ post-hedging outcomes? Evidence from bank lending standards and firms’ currency exposure. Journal of Corporate Finance, 50, 203–222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcorpfin.2018.03.004
  • Berger, A. N., & Udell, G. F. (1995). Relationship lending and lines of credit in small firm finance. The Journal of Business, 351–381. https://doi.org/10.1086/296668
  • Berger, P. (2005). Discussion of “Are investors misled by ‘Pro forma’ earnings?”*. Contemporary Accounting Research, 22(4), 965–976. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1911-3846.2005.tb00308.x
  • Beuselinck, C., Elfers, F., Gassen, J., & Pierk, J. (2023). Private firm accounting: The European reporting environment, data and research perspectives. Accounting and Business Research, 53(1), 38–82. https://doi.org/10.1080/00014788.2021.1982670
  • Bhimani, A. (2008). The role of a crisis in reshaping the role of accounting. Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, 27(6), 444–454. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaccpubpol.2008.09.002
  • Bloom, N., Fletcher, R. S., & Yeh, E. (2021). The impact of Covid-19 on U.S. firms. NBER Working Paper, 28314, https://doi.org/10.3386/w28314.
  • Bonacchi, M., Marra, A., & Zarowin, P. (2019). Organizational structure and earnings quality of private and public firms. Review of Accounting Studies, 24(3), 1066–1113. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11142-019-09495-y
  • Buchetti, B., Parbonetti, A., & Pugliese, A. (2022). COVID-19, corporate survival and public policy: The role of accounting information and regulation in the wake of a systemic crisis. Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, 41(1), 106919. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaccpubpol.2021.106919
  • Cameran, M., & Campa, D. (2020). Voluntary IFRS adoption by unlisted European firms: Impact on earnings quality and cost of debt. The International Journal of Accounting, 55(03), 2050013. https://doi.org/10.1142/S1094406020500134
  • Carletti, E., Oliviero, T., Pagano, M., Pelizzon, L., & Subrahmanyam, M. G. (2020). The COVID-19 shock and equity shortfall: Firm-level evidence from Italy. The Review of Corporate Finance Studies, 9(3), 534–568. https://doi.org/10.1093/rcfs/cfaa014
  • Cassar, G., Ittner, C. D., & Cavalluzzo, K. S. (2015). Alternative information sources and information asymmetry reduction: Evidence from small business debt. Journal of Accounting and Economics, 59(2-3), 242–263. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacceco.2014.08.003
  • Chen, W., Hribar, P., & Melessa, S. (2018). Incorrect inferences when using residuals as dependent variables. Journal of Accounting Research, 56(3), 751–796. https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-679X.12195
  • Chen, Y., & Vann, C. E. (2017). Clawback provision adoption, corporate governance, and investment decisions. Journal of Business Finance & Accounting, 44(9-10), 1370–1397. https://doi.org/10.1111/jbfa.12259
  • Clatworthy, M., Ashbaug-Skaif, H., Beatty, A. L., Davis-Friday, P. Y., Hopkins, P. E., Nelson, K. K., Ramesh, K., Uhl, R., Venkatachalam, M., & Vrana, G. (2006). Financial accounting and reporting standards for private entities. Accounting Horizons, 20(2), 179–194. https://doi.org/10.2308/acch.2006.20.2.179
  • Dal Maso, L., Kanagaretnam, K., Lobo, G. J., & Mazzi, F. (2022). Does disaster risk relate to banks’ loan loss provisions? European Accounting Review, 1–30. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638180.2022.2120513
  • Davis, S. J., Hansen, S., & Seminario-Amez, C. (2020). Firm-level risk exposures and stock returns in the wake of COVID-19. NBER Working Papers 27867. https://doi.org/10.3386/w27867.
  • DeAngelo, H., DeAngelo, L., & Skinner, D. (1994). Accounting choice in troubled companies. Journal of Accounting and Economics, 17(1-2), 113–143. https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-4101(94)90007-8
  • Dechow, P. M., Ge, W., & Schrand, C. (2010). Understanding earnings quality: A review of the proxies, their determinants and their consequences. Journal of Accounting and Economics, 50(2-3), 344–401. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacceco.2010.09.001
  • Dechow, P. M., Sloan, R. G., & Sweeney, A. P. (1995). Detecting earnings management. The Accounting Review, 70(2), 193–225. https://www.jstor.org/stable/248303.
  • DeFond, M., & Jiambalvo, J. (1994). Debt covenant violation and manipulation of accruals. Journal of Accounting and Economics, 17(1-2), 145–176. https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-4101(94)90008-6
  • DeGeorge, F., Patel, J., & Zeckhauser, R. (1999). Earnings management to exceed thresholds. The Journal of Business, 72(1), 1–33. https://doi.org/10.1086/209601
  • Dehaan, E., Hodge, F., & Shevlin, T. (2013). Does voluntary adoption of a clawback provision improve financial reporting quality? Contemporary Accounting Research, 30(3), 1027–1062. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1911-3846.2012.01183.x
  • De Vito, A., & Gómez, J. P. (2020). Estimating the COVID-19 cash crunch: Global evidence and policy. Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, 39(2), 106741. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaccpubpol.2020.106741
  • Dichev, I. D., & Skinner, D. J. (2002). Large-Sample evidence on the debt covenant hypothesis. Journal of Accounting Research, 40(4), 1091–1123. https://doi.org/10.1111/1475-679X.00083
  • Didier, T., Huneeus, F., Larrain, M., & Schmukler, S. L. (2021). Financing firms in hibernation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Financial Stability, 53, 100837. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfs.2020.100837
  • Ding, S., Liu, M., & Wu, Z. (2016). Financial reporting quality and external debt financing constraints: The case of privately held firms. Abacus, 52(3), 351–373. https://doi.org/10.1111/abac.12083
  • Ding, W., Levine, R., Lin, C., & Xie, W. (2021). Corporate immunity to the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Financial Economics, 141(2), 802–830. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfineco.2021.03.005
  • Facebook/OECD/World Bank. (2020). Future of Business Survey.
  • Financial Stability Board (FSB). (2020). COVID-19 pandemic: Financial stability implications and policy measures taken. https://www.fsb.org/wp-content/uploads/P150420.pdf.
  • Florou, A., & Kosi, U. (2015). Does mandatory IFRS adoption facilitate debt financing? Review of Accounting Studies, 20(4), 1407–1456. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11142-015-9325-z
  • Francis, J., LaFond, R., Olsson, P., & Schipper, K. (2005). The market pricing of accruals quality. Journal of Accounting and Economics, 39(2), 295–327. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacceco.2004.06.003
  • García-Teruel, P. J., Martínez-Solano, P., & Sánchez-Ballesta, J. P. (2014). The role of accruals quality in the access to bank debt. Journal of Banking & Finance, 38, 186–193. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbankfin.2013.10.003
  • Gonzalez-Uribe, J., & Wang, S. (2021). The real effects of small-firm credit guarantees during recessions. Available at SSRN 3382280. https://ssrn.com/abstract=3382280.
  • Gourinchas, P. O., Kalemli-Ozcan, S., Penciakova, V., & Sander, N. (2022). COVID-19 and SME failures. NBER Working Papers 27877. https://www.nber.org/papers/w27877.
  • Healy, P., & Palepu, K. (1990). Effectiveness of accounting-based dividend covenants. Journal of Accounting and Economics, 12(1-3), 97–123. https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-4101(90)90043-4
  • Heckman, J. (1979). Sample selection bias as a specification error. Econometrica, 47(1), 153–162. https://doi.org/10.2307/1912352
  • Hermann, D., & Inoue, T. (1996). Income smoothing and incentives by operating condition: An empirical test using depreciation changes in Japan. Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, 5(2), 161–177. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1061-9518(96)90003-8
  • Hope, O. K., & Vyas, D. (2017). Private company finance and financial reporting. Accounting and Business Research, 47(5), 506–537. https://doi.org/10.1080/00014788.2017.1303963
  • Ilzetzki, E. (2020). COVID-19: The economic policy response. VoxEU. https://doi.org/10.1353/eca.2020.0030.
  • IMF. (2021). Database of Fiscal Policy Reponses to COVID-19, International Monetary Fund, https://www.imf.org/en/Topics/imf-and-covid19/Fiscal-Policies-Database-in-Response-to-COVID-19 (accessed on November 15th, 2022).
  • Jensen, M., & Meckling, W. (1976). Theory of the firm: Managerial behavior, agency costs and ownership structure. Journal of Financial Economics, 3(4), 305–360. https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-405X(76)90026-X
  • Kennedy, P. (2008). A guide to econometrics. Blackwell Publishing.
  • Kim, J., Simunic, D., Stein, M., & Yi, C. (2011). Voluntary audits and the cost of debt capital for privately held firms: Korean evidence*. Contemporary Accounting Research, 28(2), 585–615. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1911-3846.2010.01054.x
  • Kim, Y., Li, H., & Li, S. (2015). CEO equity incentives and audit fees. Contemporary Accounting Research, 32(2), 608–638. https://doi.org/10.1111/1911-3846.12096
  • La Rosa, F., Liberatore, G., Mazzi, F., & Terzani, S. (2018). The impact of corporate social performance on the cost of debt and access to debt financing for listed European non-financial firms. European Management Journal, 36(4), 519–529. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emj.2017.09.007
  • Lawrence, A., Minutti-Meza, M., & Zhang, P. (2011). Can Big 4 versus non-Big 4 differences in audit-quality proxies be attributed to client characteristics? The Accounting Review, 86(1), 259–286. https://doi.org/10.2308/accr.00000009
  • Leone, A. J., Minutti-Meza, M., & Wasley, C. E. (2019). Influential observations and inference in accounting research. The Accounting Review, 94(6), 337–364. https://doi.org/10.2308/accr-52396
  • Lin, Y. C. (2017). Do voluntary clawback adoptions curb overinvestment? Corporate Governance: An International Review, 25(4), 255–270. https://doi.org/10.1111/corg.12194
  • Lougee, B. A., & Marquardt, C. A. (2004). Earnings informativeness and strategic disclosure: An empirical examination of “pro forma” earnings. The Accounting Review, 79(3), 769–795. https://doi.org/10.2308/accr.2004.79.3.769
  • Mafrolla, E., & D’Amico, E. (2017). Borrowing capacity and earnings management: An analysis of private loans in private firms. Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, 36(1), 284–301. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaccpubpol.2017.05.001
  • Mafrolla, E., & Nobili, V. (2017). Discretionary accruals in Italian private firms and non-linear bank loan granting. Financial Reporting, 1/2017(1), 83–99. https://doi.org/10.3280/FR2017-001004
  • Marra, A., Mazzola, P., & Prencipe, A. (2011). Board monitoring and earnings management pre- and post-IFRS. The International Journal of Accounting, 46(2), 205–230. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intacc.2011.04.007
  • Minnis, M. (2011). The value of financial statement verification in debt financing: Evidence from private U.S. Firms. Journal of Accounting Research, 49(2), 457–506. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-679X.2011.00411.x
  • Minnis, M., & Shroff, N. (2017). Why regulate private firm disclosure and auditing? Accounting and Business Research, 47(5), 473–502. https://doi.org/10.1080/00014788.2017.1303962
  • OECD. (2021). OECD SME and Entrepreneurship Outlook 2021. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/97a5bbfe-en
  • Ozili, P. K., & Arun, T. (2023). Spillover of COVID-19: impact on the Global Economy. In Managing inflation and supply chain disruptions in the global economy (pp. 41–61). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-6684-5876-1.ch004
  • Pittman, J. A., & Fortin, S. (2004). Auditor choice and the cost of debt capital for newly public firms. Journal of Accounting and Economics, 37(1), 113–136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacceco.2003.06.005
  • Porcher, S. (2020). Response2covid19, a dataset of governments’ responses to COVID-19 all around the world. Scientific Data, 7(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-020-00757-y
  • Prencipe, A., Bar-Yosef, S., & Dekker, H. C. (2014). Accounting research in family firms: Theoretical and empirical challenges. European Accounting Review, 23(3), 361–385. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638180.2014.895621
  • Reinhart, C. M. (2020). This time truly is different. https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/covid19-crisis-has-no-economic-precedent-by-carmen-reinhart-2020-03.
  • Sánchez-Ballesta, J. P., & García-Meca, E. (2011). Ownership structure and the cost of debt. European Accounting Review, 20(2), 389–416. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638180903487834
  • Shipman, J. E., Swanquist, Q. T., & Whited, R. L. (2017). Propensity score matching in accounting research. The Accounting Review, 92(1), 213–244. https://doi.org/10.2308/accr-51449
  • Shivakumar, L. (2000). Do firms mislead investors by overstating earnings before seasoned equity offerings? Journal of Accounting and Economics, 29(3), 339–371. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0165-4101(00)00026-4
  • Shivakumar, L. (2013). The role of financial reporting in debt contracting and in stewardship. Accounting and Business Research, 43(4), 362–383. https://doi.org/10.1080/00014788.2013.785683
  • Skinner, D. (1993). The investment opportunity set and accounting procedure choice. Journal of Accounting and Economics, 16(1), 407–445. https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-4101(93)90034-D
  • Sunder, S. (2016). Better financial reporting: Meanings and means. Journal of Accounting and Public Policy, 35(3), 211–223. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaccpubpol.2016.03.002
  • Sweeney, A. P. (1994). Debt-covenant violations and managers’ accounting responses. Journal of Accounting and Economics, 17(3), 281–308. https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-4101(94)90030-2
  • Szczygielski, J. J., Charteris, A., Bwanya, P., & Brzeszczyński, J. (2022). The impact and role of COVID-19 uncertainty: A global industry analysis. International Review of Financial Analysis, 80, 101837. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.irfa.2021.101837
  • Teoh, S. H., Wong, T. J., & Rao, G. T. (1998). Are accruals during initial public offerings opportunistic? Review of Accounting Studies, 3(1/2), 175–208. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009688619882
  • United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). (2019). GAR. Global assessment report on disaster risk reduction 2019. https://www.undrr.org/publication/global-assessment-report-disaster-risk-reduction-2019.
  • Van Caneghem, T., & Van Campenhout, G. (2012). Quantity and quality of information and SME financial structure. Small Business Economics, 39(2), 341–358. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-010-9306-3
  • Vander Bauwhede, H., De Meyere, M., & Van Cauwenberge, P. (2015). Financial reporting quality and the cost of debt of SMEs. Small Business Economics, 45(1), 149–164. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-015-9645-1
  • Wall Street Journal. (2020). Europe opts for economic freeze to fight coronavirus, as U.S. debate continues. WSJ, March 26. https://www.wsj.com/articles/europe-opts-for-economic-freeze-to-fight-coronavirus-as-u-s-debate-continues-11585215005.
  • Wu, J. S., & Zhang, I. X. (2009). The voluntary adoption of internationally recognized accounting standards and firm internal performance evaluation. The Accounting Review, 84(4), 1281–1309. https://doi.org/10.2308/accr.2009.84.4.1281
  • Wu, M. W., & Shen, C. H. (2013). Corporate social responsibility in the banking industry: Motives and financial performance. Journal of Banking & Finance, 37(9), 3529–3547. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbankfin.2013.04.023
  • Zabai, A. (2020). How are household finances holding up against the Covid-19 shock? (No. 22). Bank for International Settlements. https://www.bis.org/publ/bisbull22.pdf.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.