A study on the effect of macroeconomic variables and firm characteristics on the quality of financial reporting of listed firms in Tehran Stock Exchange

Abstract

According to conducted studies, financial structure of organization was so important in its value and validity. For this purpose, managers should be aware about the  variables affect the financial structure or organization and achieve an optimized financial structure using a proper attitude and scientific theories. The factors  influencing on financial structure can be macroeconomic variables and specific  features of organization. Macroeconomic variables in this study were Exchange rates, inflation rates, interest rates and GDP. The firm characteristics in this study included working capital, size of firm and financial leverage. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of macroeconomic variables and firm characteristics on quality of financial reporting. In this study, Francis et al Model (2005) has been used to examine the quality of financial reporting. The statistical population was listed firms in Tehran Stock Exchange. 91 firms were selected as statistical sample using elimination method. Time period of study was 2005 to 2013. Multiple linear regression and Spearman correlation test have been used to test the hypotheses. The results showed that, the macroeconomic variables had no effect on quality of financial reporting and there was indirect and moderate  correlation between GDP and quality of financial reporting. But, specific features of firm had effect on quality of financial reporting and out of variables of specific characteristic of firm except working capital, there was a significant correlation between financial leverage and size of firm with quality of financial reporting.

Keywords: Specific Characteristics of Firm, Macroeconomic Variables, Quality of Financial Reporting, Size of Firm, Financial Leverage