%0 Book
%A Thorsten Sellhorn
%D 2018
%C Berlin, Germany
%I Peter Lang Verlag
%@ 9783631754986
%T Goodwill Impairment
%B An Empirical Investigation of Write-Offs under SFAS 142
%R 10.3726/b14014
%U https://www.peterlang.com/document/1068550
%X In 2001, goodwill amortization in the US was eliminated in favor of an impairment-only approach, which, according to critics, gives managers vast discretion and opportunities for earnings management. Prior research suggests that discretionary asset write-offs are associated with economic factors and managers’ financial reporting objectives. Based on a systematic literature review, this study investigates for a comprehensive sample of US firms the determinants of goodwill write-off behavior. Regression analysis shows that write-off behavior is significantly explained by firms’ economic properties. Only in large, high-profile firms, incentives appear to be significant determinants. These findings suggest that the impairment-only approach does capture goodwill impairment at least to some extent.
%K Goodwill, Wertberichtigung, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, USA, Bilanzpolitik, US-GAAP, Firmenwert, Geschäftswert, Impairment
%G English