The effects of dependency on debt financing on financial reporting policy : the case of Greece

Abstract

Financial statements information is supposed to influence the credit decisions of credit institutions. Furthermore, debt agreements include terms based upon accounting numbers. Within this context an accounting choice aiming to minimize tax liability might generate significant non-tax costs for a firm. The significance of these costs is conditioned upon the level of dependency of firm on debt financing. This paper examines the arguments that have been developed regarding the association between firm’s leverage ratio and its accounting policy decisions. Given the level of dependency of Greek industrial firms on bank financing it is argued that the above mentioned factors might affect the accounting policy decisions of Greek firms and prompt them to deviate from a tax-reducing policy.