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Do Strict Regulators Increase the Transparency of Banks?

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  • ANNA M. COSTELLO
  • JOÃO GRANJA
  • JOSEPH WEBER
Abstract
We investigate the role that regulatory strictness plays on the enforcement of financial reporting transparency in the U.S. banking industry. Using a novel measure of regulatory strictness in the enforcement of capital adequacy, we show that strict regulators are more likely to enforce restatements of banks' call reports. Further, we find that the effect of regulatory strictness on accounting enforcement is strongest in periods leading up to economic downturns and for banks with riskier asset portfolios. Overall, the results from our study indicate that regulatory oversight plays an important role in enforcing financial reporting transparency, particularly in periods leading up to economic crises. We interpret this evidence as inconsistent with the idea that strict bank regulators put significant weight on concerns about the potential destabilizing effects of accounting transparency.

Suggested Citation

  • Anna M. Costello & João Granja & Joseph Weber, 2019. "Do Strict Regulators Increase the Transparency of Banks?," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 57(3), pages 603-637, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:joares:v:57:y:2019:i:3:p:603-637
    DOI: 10.1111/1475-679X.12255
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Bischof, Jannis & Foos, Daniel & Riepe, Jan, 2020. "Does greater transparency discipline the loan loss provisioning of privately held banks?," Discussion Papers 40/2020, Deutsche Bundesbank.
    3. Yue, Heng & Zhang, Liandong & Zhong, Qinlin, 2022. "The politics of bank opacity," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 73(2).
    4. Gopalan, Yadav, 2022. "The effects of ratings disclosure by bank regulators," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 73(1).
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    6. Granja, João & Leuz, Christian, 2024. "The death of a regulator: Strict supervision, bank lending, and business activity," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    7. Xu, Jing & Pan, Zheyao & Tian, Gary (Gang), 2023. "Does the threat of enforcement of financial regulations affect the cost of equity in weak institutional environments?," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 55(6).
    8. Anya Kleymenova & Rimmy E. Tomy, 2022. "Observing Enforcement: Evidence from Banking," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 60(4), pages 1583-1633, September.
    9. Mannil, Nithin & Nishesh, Naman & Tantri, Prasanna, 2024. "When emergency medicine becomes a staple diet: Evidence from Indian banking crisis," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    10. Anya Kleymenova & Rimmy E. Tomy, 2022. "Observing Enforcement: Evidence from Banking," Journal of Accounting Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 60(4), pages 1583-1633, September.
    11. He, Dongwei & Wu, Yifan & Wang, Yifan & Xing, Xueyan, 2023. "Prudential regulation and bank performance: Evidence from China," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    12. Guettler, Andre & Naeem, Mahvish & Norden, Lars & Van Doornik, Bernardus, 2024. "Pre-publication revisions of bank financial statements: A novel way to monitor banks?," Journal of Financial Intermediation, Elsevier, vol. 58(C).
    13. Wheeler, P. Barrett, 2019. "Loan loss accounting and procyclical bank lending: The role of direct regulatory actions," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 67(2), pages 463-495.
    14. Yang, Ling, 2022. "An information quality-based explanation for loan loss allowance inadequacy during the 2008 financial crisis," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 73(1).
    15. Bischof, Jannis & Laux, Christian & Leuz, Christian, 2021. "Accounting for financial stability: Bank disclosure and loss recognition in the financial crisis," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 141(3), pages 1188-1217.
    16. Berger, Allen N. & Cai, Jin & Roman, Raluca A. & Sedunov, John, 2022. "Supervisory enforcement actions against banks and systemic risk," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    17. Jannis Bischof & Ulf Brüggemann & Holger Daske, 2023. "Asset Reclassifications and Bank Recapitalization During the Financial Crisis," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 69(1), pages 75-100, January.
    18. Bischof, Jannis & Laux, Christian & Leuz, Christian, 2020. "Accounting for financial stability: Lessons from the financial crisis and future challenges," SAFE Working Paper Series 283, Leibniz Institute for Financial Research SAFE.
    19. John Gallemore, 2023. "Bank financial reporting opacity and regulatory intervention," Review of Accounting Studies, Springer, vol. 28(3), pages 1765-1810, September.
    20. Marco Maria Mattei & Petya Platikanova, 2023. "Enhancing bank transparency: Financial reporting quality, fraudulent peers and social capital," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 63(3), pages 3419-3454, September.
    21. Raffaela Casciello & Marco Maffei & David A. Ziebart, 2024. "Regulatory and contextual factors influencing earnings and capital management decisions: evidence from the European banking sector," Review of Quantitative Finance and Accounting, Springer, vol. 63(1), pages 87-146, July.

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