Business Research and Administration Innovation (BRAIN)
Vol. 3 No. 1 (2026): BRAIN - APRIL

The Determinants of Earnings Management in Indonesian Public Companies

Leonardo Davidsi Sipayung (Universitas Negeri Makassar)
Fitriana (Universitas Negeri Makassar)
Eureka Try Zarazwanty R Laega (Universitas Negeri Makassar)



Article Info

Publish Date
06 Jun 2026

Abstract

Indonesia is the biggest economy in the southeast Asia. This paper investigates the earnings management behavior of Indonesian public firms. The earnings management activities have been divided into three parts. Namely, accrual earnings management, real earnings management and fraud detection. Our findings indicate that earnings management activities are common for Indonesian firms. Firm size and asset growth have significant relationship associated, with various directions, with both accrual earnings management and real management activities for Indonesian firms. We also find that firm size, asset growth, ROE, and debt ratio consistently have significant relationship to real earnings management. In predicting the possibility of Indonesian firm to commit financial fraud, we find that manipulating gross margin, sales growth, depreciations and expenses related to sales and general administration is common seen from fraudulent firms in Indonesia.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

BRAIN

Publisher

Subject

Decision Sciences, Operations Research & Management Economics, Econometrics & Finance Social Sciences

Description

usiness Research and Administration Innovation (BRAIN) is a national, open access, peer-reviewed academic journal, which is published by Faculty of Social science and law , Universitas Negeri Makassar As a medium of interaction for academic community, practitioners and other related parties about ...