Full metadata record
| DC Field | Value | Language |
|---|---|---|
| dc.contributor | Graduate School of Business | en_US |
| dc.creator | Yip, Choi-yee | - |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://theses.lib.polyu.edu.hk/handle/200/6008 | - |
| dc.language | English | en_US |
| dc.publisher | Hong Kong Polytechnic University | - |
| dc.rights | All rights reserved | en_US |
| dc.title | Ownership structure and internal control over financial reporting | en_US |
| dcterms.abstract | This study investigates the relation between a firm's ownership structure and the quality of its internal control over financial reporting. Drawing on the agency theory, this study examines the underlying factors that drive the effective implementation of an internal control system in a company. A strong internal control system exerts more control on management to restrain them from the abuse of power. As the decision to establish a strong internal control system is at the discretion of management, their inherent preference to avoid monitoring highlights the confronting stands of management and shareholders in this particular corporate decision. Their devotion to the building of a robust internal control system has therefore to be driven by some strong incentives and/or constraints. This study explores how the ownership structure, as characterized by insider ownership and institutional ownership, can influence managerial incentives and constraints in the establishment of an internal control system in a company. This study uses a sample of over 1,200 U.S. listed companies with internal control disclosures between 2004 and 2008 under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act Section 404 regulatory regime. The empirical findings of the piecewise logistic regression model suggest that insider ownership exerts a non-monotonic effect on managerial incentives, due to the interaction of alignment-of-interest and management entrenchment effects. With diffuse ownership in a company, an increase in insider ownership initially brings strong incentives for management to improve the internal control system, which will result in a lower likelihood of internal control material weaknesses. Upon reaching a certain ownership threshold, the management are getting entrenched and the likelihood of material weaknesses increases with the level of insider ownership. The entrenchment problem is alleviated when the insider ownership stake further increases. By then the domination of alignment-of-interests effect will incentivize the controlling shareholders to establish a sound internal control system, which again reduces the likelihood of internal control material weaknesses. In addition, this study shows that dominant ownership of institutional investors reduces the likelihood of internal control material weaknesses in a company. This is consistent with the argument that institutional investors are placing constraints on corporate decisions, and they are likely to monitor and pressure management to establish a strong internal control system in the company. | en_US |
| dcterms.extent | vii, 175 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm. | en_US |
| dcterms.isPartOf | PolyU Electronic Theses | en_US |
| dcterms.issued | 2010 | en_US |
| dcterms.educationalLevel | All Doctorate | en_US |
| dcterms.educationalLevel | D.B.A. | en_US |
| dcterms.LCSH | Hong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertations | en_US |
| dcterms.LCSH | Financial statements | en_US |
| dcterms.LCSH | Controllership. | en_US |
| dcterms.LCSH | Industrial management. | en_US |
| dcterms.accessRights | restricted access | en_US |
Files in This Item:
| File | Description | Size | Format | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| b23942708.pdf | For All Users (off-campus access for PolyU Staff & Students only) | 25.32 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
Copyright Undertaking
As a bona fide Library user, I declare that:
- I will abide by the rules and legal ordinances governing copyright regarding the use of the Database.
- I will use the Database for the purpose of my research or private study only and not for circulation or further reproduction or any other purpose.
- I agree to indemnify and hold the University harmless from and against any loss, damage, cost, liability or expenses arising from copyright infringement or unauthorized usage.
By downloading any item(s) listed above, you acknowledge that you have read and understood the copyright undertaking as stated above, and agree to be bound by all of its terms.
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
https://theses.lib.polyu.edu.hk/handle/200/6008