Earnings Quality and Income Smoothing Motives: Evidence from Indonesia

Abstract

Earnings management is very important for companies that aim for decision-making. The research was conducted to analyze the quality of earnings and income smoothing motives in manufacturing companies in Indonesia. The research approach is carried out with a quantitative approach. The sampling method using purposive sampling was associated with several criteria so that a sample of 130 was determined, which was analyzed during the 4 years of the study. The partial least square method was used for data analysis. The results of the study state that institutional ownership has no effect on earnings quality, institutional ownership has a negative effect on income smoothing, leverage has a negative effect on income smoothing, independent commissioners have a positive effect on earnings quality as well as independent commissioners have a positive effect on income smoothing. We assume that the tendency of income smoothing can affect the quality of efficient earnings. Meanwhile, income smoothing affects the quality of company earnings. Management that performs income smoothing is more aimed at conveying the company’s prospects for generating profits rather than opportunistic motives.