Forecasting Economic Recession and Growth Using Corporate Financial Misreporting

Authors

    Shirin Montashi Department of Accounting, Na.C., Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran.
    Mahnam Molaei * Department of Accounting, Na.C., Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran. mmolaei61@iau.ac.ir
    Maryam Farhadi Department of Accounting, Isf.C., Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
    Javad Foruzandeh Department of Accounting, Na.C., Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran.

Keywords:

Economic Recession, Economic Growth, Financial Misreporting

Abstract

This study aims to examine the ability of corporate financial misreporting to predict economic recession and economic growth in firms listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange. The research is classified as fundamental-experimental in purpose and descriptive-correlational in nature. The statistical population included all firms listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange between 2012 and 2023. Using the systematic elimination method, 105 firms were selected as the sample. Data were gathered from financial statements, explanatory notes, and official stock exchange resources. Multiple regression and logistic regression models were employed, and data analysis was conducted using Eviews and Stata software. The results indicated that financial misreporting (measured through the adjusted Beneish M-Score) significantly predicts economic recession, with logistic regression coefficients confirming the first hypothesis (p<0.05). Moreover, panel regression results demonstrated that financial misreporting also predicts future economic growth. Control variables such as exchange rate, consumer price index, and firm size were also found to have significant effects on economic outcomes. The findings highlight that distorted financial reporting can serve as a reliable predictor of both economic recession and economic growth. These insights provide valuable implications for policymakers, regulators, and investors seeking to enhance decision-making processes and mitigate risks associated with misreported financial information.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Abdalla, A. M., & Carabias, J. M. (2022). From accounting to economics: The role of aggregate special items in gauging the state of the economy. The Accounting Review, 97(1), 1-20. https://doi.org/10.2308/TAR-2018-0316

Arabzadeh, M., Izadinia, N., & Samadi, S. (2021). The Effect of Accounting Profit Growth on Future Gross Domestic Product Growth, Future Net Investment Growth, and Their Forecasting Errors. Financial Accounting and Auditing Researches, 13(50), 229-248.

Badu, B., & Appiah, K. (2018). Value relevance of accounting information: an emerging countryperspective. Journal of Accounting and Organizational Change, 14(4), 473-491. https://doi.org/10.1108/JAOC-07-2017-0064

Banerjee, R., & Majumdar, S. (2020). Determinants of shareholder value creation - platform versus traditional business models. International Journal of Business Performance Management, 21(1/2), 230-244. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJBPM.2020.106114

Barth, M. E., McClure, C., & Li, A. (2019). Evolution in value relevance of accounting information.

Beneish, M. D., Glendening, D. B., Shaw, M., & Kenneth, W. (2023). Aggregate Financial Misreporting and the Predictability of U.S. Recessions and GDP Growth. https://doi.org/10.2308/TAR-2021-0160

Bokhradi Nasab, V., Kamali, E., & Ebrahimi Kahrizsangi, K. (2021). An Examination of the Accuracy of Gross Domestic Product Forecasting by Focusing on the Comparative Information of Inflated and Deflated Accrual Accounting Earnings. Journal of Financial Accounting Research, 13(3), 1-34.

Bokhradi Nasab, V., Kamali, E., & Ebrahimi Kahrizsangi, K. (2023). Investigating the Explanatory Power of Accounting Information Using Linear and Nonlinear Models in Economic Growth Forecasting. Quarterly Journal of Financial Economics Theories, 8(1), 54-78.

El-Diftar, D., & Elkalla, T. (2019). The value relevance of accounting information in the MENAregion: a comparison of GCC and non-GCC countryfirms. Journal of Financial Reporting andAccounting, 17(3), 519-536. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFRA-09-2018-0079

Hall, J. H. (2016). Industry-specific determinants of shareholder value creation. Studies in Economics and Finance, 33(2), 190-208. https://doi.org/10.1108/SEF-08-2014-0155

Hall, J. H. (2018). Value creation measures: an industry-based study. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 67(2), 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPPM-08-2016-0178

Hall, J. H. (2024). Corporate shareholder value creation as contributor to economic growth. Studies in Economics and Finance, 41(1), 148-176. https://doi.org/10.1108/SEF-06-2021-0255

Hann, R., Lee, H., & Li, C. (2017). Do large firms tell us more about the macro economy? Evidence from managers financing decisions. American Accounting Association Annual Meeting, Conference on Teaching and Learning in Accounting, New York.

Kim, J. B., & Zhang, L. (2016). Accounting conservatism and stock price crash risk: firmlevel evide nce. Contemporary Accounting Research, 33(1), 412-441. https://doi.org/10.1111/1911-3846.12112

Laurion, H., & Patatoukas, P. N. (2016). From micro to macro: does conditional conservatismaggregate up in the national income and product accounts. Journal of Financial Reporting, 1(2), 21-45. https://doi.org/10.2308/jfir-51619

Makari, M. (2023). The Impact of Ownership Concentration on Real Earnings Management with an Emphasis on Economic Recession. Accounting and Management Outlook, 6(78), 140-152.

Moyo, C., & Jeke, L. (2019). Manufacturing sector and economic growth: a panel study of selected African countries. Gatr Journal of Business and Economics Review, 4(3), 114-130. https://doi.org/10.35609/jber.2019.4.3(1)

Riahi Nasab, N., Jamshidi Navid, B., Moradi, A., & Ghanbari, M. (2024). The Role of Accounting Information in Forecasting Gross Domestic Product. Journal of Accounting and Management Auditing Knowledge, 13(49), 233-250.

Tanaka, M., Bloom, N., David, J. M., & Koga, M. (2020). Firm performance and macro forecast accuracy. Journal of Monetary Economics, 114, 26-41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmoneco.2019.02.008

Umezurike, C. A., & Mthimkhulu, S. F. (2019). The relationship between the South African manufacturing sector and economic growth.

Zhang, L., & Fargher, N. (2022). Aggregate accounting earnings, special items and growth in gross domestic product: evidence from Australia. Accounting & Finance, 62(2), 2467-2496. https://doi.org/10.1111/acfi.12871

Downloads

Published

2026-05-22

Submitted

2025-06-07

Revised

2025-09-30

Accepted

2025-10-08

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Montashi, S. ., Molaei, M., Farhadi, M. ., & Foruzandeh, J. . (1405). Forecasting Economic Recession and Growth Using Corporate Financial Misreporting. Accounting, Finance and Computational Intelligence, 1-15. https://jafci.com/index.php/jafci/article/view/160

Similar Articles

1-10 of 119

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.